Proteomic Changes Associated With Sperm Fertilizing Ability in Meat-Type Roosters

Abstract

The molecular basis of male fertility remains unclear, especially in chickens, where decades of genetic selection increased male fertility variability as a side effect. As transcription and translation are highly limited in sperm, proteins are key molecules defining their functionality, making proteomic approaches one of the most adequate methods to investigate sperm capacity. In this context, it is interesting to combine complementary proteomic approaches to maximize the identification of proteins related to sperm-fertilizing ability. In the present study, we aimed at identifying proteins related to fertility in meat-type roosters, showing fertility variability. Fertile roosters (fertility rates higher than 70% after artificial insemination) differed from subfertile roosters (fertility rates lower than 40%) in their sperm mass motility. Fertile and subfertile sperm protein contents were compared using two complementary label-free quantitative proteomic methods: Intact Cell MALDI-TOF-Mass Spectrometry and GeLC-MS/MS. Combining the two strategies, 57 proteins were identified as differentially abundant. Most of them were described for the first time as differentially abundant according to fertility in this species. These proteins were involved in various molecular pathways including flagellum integrity and movement, mitochondrial functions, sperm maturation, and storage in female tract as well as oocyte–sperm interaction. Collectively, our data improved our understanding of chicken sperm biology by revealing new actors involved in the complexity of male fertility that depends on multiple cell functions to reach optimal rates. This explains the inability of reductionist in vitro fertility testing in predicting male fertility and suggests that the use of a combination of markers is a promising approach.

Evaluating sperm quality characteristics obtained through the female teaser method in native chicken breeds

“…However, it is noteworthy that the pH values of all three breeds fell within the normal range defined by the standard for chicken semen [12]. Chicken semen is typically slightly alkaline, with pH values ranging from 6.0 to 8.0 [17,18].…”

Exploring how sucrose-colloid selection improves the fertilizing ability of chicken sperm after cryopreservation with glycerol

“…However, it is not linked to sperm functional parameters. To further investigate the influences of glycerol removal methods, additional molecular and biochemical analysis, such as proteomic approaches and oxidative damage ( Soler et al, 2016 ; Rui et al, 2017 ; Vitorino Carvalho et al, 2021 ), would be helpful to identify molecular pathways impacted by the different post-thawing treatments, and for future improvements.…”

Selection of Male Donors in Local Chicken Breeds to Implement the Italian Semen Cryobank: Variability in Semen Quality, Freezability and Fertility

“…In particular, several sperm and seminal plasma proteins have been identified as potential markers of sperm freezability in the boar, bull, stallion and men [72,73]. The study of the proteomic profile in the sperm of meat-type chickens revealed 50 proteins linked to sperm fertility that are involved in several molecular pathways other than motility, including mitochondria function, sperm maturation, storage within the female reproductive tract and oocyte-sperm interaction [74]. Further studies to better understand sperm biology and fertilization at the molecular level are required to identify novel biomarkers of chicken male fertility to implement cryopreservation technology and improve the long-term in vitro conservation of avian genetic resources.…”