Semen Modulates Inflammation and Angiogenesis in the Reproductive Tract of Female Rabbits

Abstract

The maternal environment modulates immune responses to facilitate embryo development and ensure pregnancy. Unraveling this modulation could improve the livestock breeding systems. Here it is hypothesized that the exposure of the female rabbit reproductive tract to semen, as well as to early embryos, modulates inflammation and angiogenesis among different tissue segments. qPCR analysis of the gene expression changes of the anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 (IL10) and transforming growth factor beta family (TGFβ1–3) and the angiogenesis mediator vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) were examined in response to mating or insemination with sperm-free seminal plasma (SP). Reproductive tract segment (cervix to infundibulum) samples were obtained in Experiment 1, 20 h after gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation (control), natural mating (NM) or vaginal infusion with sperm-free SP (SP-AI). Additionally, segmented samples were also obtained at 10, 24, 36, 68 or 72 h after GnRH-stimulation and natural mating (Experiment 2). The results of gene expression, analyzed by quantitative PCR, showed that NM effects were mainly localized in the uterine tissues, depicting clear temporal variation, while SP-AI effects were restricted to the oviduct. Changes in anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis mediators indicate an early response in the uterus and a late modulation in the oviduct either induced by semen or preimplantation embryos. This knowledge could be used in the implementation of physiological strategies in breeding systems to face the new challenges on rabbit productivity and sustainability.

Effect of seminal plasma treatment on conception rate in Holstein cows

“…Despite differences in seminal plasma composition and female genital anatomy, similar immunomodulatory effects were reported in various mammalian species, including humans, horses, sheep, rats, rabbits and mice. (Gardela et al, 2020;Portus et al, 2005;. However, although recent literature studies in this field reveal the immune modulation effect of SP in the female reproductive tract, studies indicating its effect on fertilisation success are limited.…”

Progesterone and Inflammatory Response in the Oviduct during Physiological and Pathological Conditions

“…Yousef et al also found that sperm bind to BOECs and stimulate the expression of IL10 and TGFB1 in BOECs [ 86 ], suggesting an induction of anti-inflammatory responses by sperm. However, the presence of sperm after natural mating decreases IL10 in the UTJ region of rabbit oviducts [ 87 ]. Bromfield et al show that the expression levels of Csf2 , Lif , and Il6 are similar between oviducts collected at the estrus stage or after mating with intact or vasectomized male mice [ 88 ].…”

Semen Modulates Cell Proliferation and Differentiation-Related Transcripts in the Pig Peri-Ovulatory Endometrium

“…Inflammation is a part of relevant steps of reproductive physiology, present during ovulation, mating, sperm tolerance, placentation, or parturition [7]. The role of semen and seminal plasma (SP) triggering temporary inflammation in the female reproductive tract has been demonstrated in most species [8], including human [9], mice [10], bovine [11], equine [12], porcine [13], and lagomorpha [14]. This temporal post-mating inflammation removes potential pathogens and exogenous SP-proteins, as well as the spermatozoa that do not reach the utero-tubal junction [15].…”