The enigmatic seminal plasma: a proteomics insight from ejaculation to fertilization

Abstract

BackgroundThe ‘omics’ approach for a noninvasive diagnosis of male reproductive system disorders has gained momentum during the last decade, particularly from a screening and prognosis point of view. Due to the rapid development in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) over the years, the major focus of proteomic studies has been around the ejaculated spermatozoa. Although seminal plasma is not a requirement for ART, the question arose whether the role of seminal plasma is merely to transport spermatozoa.Main bodySeminal plasma (SP) contains a large diversity of proteins that are essential not only for sperm transport, but also for sperm protection and maturation. Most of the proteins bind to sperm surface through exosomes (epididymosomes and prostasomes), modulating sperm function, interaction with the female reproductive tract and finally fertilization. This review focuses on the state-of-art discoveries regarding SP proteome and its role in fertilization.ConclusionTissue-specific proteins in the SP have emerged as fundamental contributors for protein biomarker discovery. This is important for a noninvasive diagnosis of male infertility and development of new therapeutic approaches. Moreover, ART success rates may be improved by taking into account the critical role of seminal proteome in fertilization.

Alterations of morphology and phosphorylated protein expression in the seminal vesicles of diabetic mice

“…In a previous study, we demonstrated the different expressions of testicular phosphorylated proteins in the between T1DM and T2DM mouse model (Sampannang et al, in press). Since the proteomics of ejaculated seminal plasma have been revealed (Samanta, Parida, Dias, & Agarwal, 2018), the seminal secretion may contain some phosphorylated proteins and their expressions may be different between DM types. Since the proteomics of ejaculated seminal plasma have been revealed (Samanta, Parida, Dias, & Agarwal, 2018), the seminal secretion may contain some phosphorylated proteins and their expressions may be different between DM types.…”

“…Seminal plasma produced from the male reproductive tract, especially in seminal vesicles that secrete essential factors and proteins, is involved in sperm motility, capacitation and acrosome exocytosis. Since the proteomics of ejaculated seminal plasma have been revealed (Samanta, Parida, Dias, & Agarwal, 2018), the seminal secretion may contain some phosphorylated proteins and their expressions may be different between DM types. To provide the best of our knowledge, the association between seminal secreting substances and low-seminal plasma quality of male subfertility caused by DMs needs to be more explained.…”

The seminal acrosin‐inhibitor ClTI1/SPINK2 is a fertility‐associated marker in the chicken

“…Seminal plasma is a very complex fluid composed of secretions from testis and male genital tract. In addition to previous biochemical studies, proteomic approaches allowed the identification of numerous seminal plasma proteins in the chicken and mammalian species (Atikuzzaman et al, ; Borziak, Álvarez‐Fernández, Karr, Pizzari, & Dorus, ; Brito et al, ; Camargo, Intasqui, & Bertolla, ; Druart et al, ; Intasqui et al, ; Labas et al, ; Perez‐Patino et al, ; Samanta, Parida, Dias, & Agarwal, ). Proteomics profiles reflect sperm functional traits (Intasqui et al, ) and highly differ between species.…”

Immune regulatory molecules as modifiers of semen and fertility: A review

“…During ejaculation, efferent ducts and accessory sex glands add immune components and extracellular microvesicles such as epididymosomes and prostasomes to the spermatozoa (Jodar, Soler‐Ventura, Oliva, & Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group, ). These secretory molecules regulate sperm function (Shilpa et al, ) and subsequent fertilization events in the female reproductive tract (Samanta, Parida, Dias, & Agarwal, ; Sullivan & Saez, ). Comparatively, the mechanisms of systemic immune tolerance towards male germ cell antigens as well as those that maintain immune privilege remain to be resolved.…”