Uptake and release of free L-carnitine by boar epididymal spermatozoa in vitro and subsequent acetylation rate

Jeulin, C.; Dacheux, J.L.; Soufir, J. C.

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.1000263

Cited by 41 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…L-carnitine plays a vital role in cellular energy metabolism. It functions as a transporter of short, medium and long chain fatty acids to or through the internal mitochondrial membrane, thereby facilitating the β-oxidation (Hulse et al, 1978;Jeulin et al, 1994). Thus, carnitine provides energy and operates in motility and maturation of sperm (Palmero et al, 2000).…”

Section: L-carnitinementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutraceutical in male reproduction

Freitas¹,

Oliveira

2018

Braz. J. Vet. Med.

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In order to obtain a successful outcome in artificial insemination programs, a few precautions must be taken with regard to male breeders. It is established that environmental factors can change the hormonal secretion, the cell differentiation that occurs in the testicles, as well as sperm maturation and transport in the epididymis. In view of adverse nutritional factors, reproductive organs can present degeneration and disorders in different degrees and intensities, affecting the animal fertility. The term nutraceutical describes products derived from foods, which may provide additional health benefits, beyond the basic value found in diets. Among the main nutraceuticals used in male reproduction, there are omega-3, arginine, B-complex vitamins, L-carnitine, β-carotene and antioxidants. The aim of this paper is to present the main substances used as nutraceuticals, in order to improve semen quality, obtaining most favorable outcomes of stallions in the use of natural breeding or artificial insemination.Keywords: artificial insemination, fertility, nutrition, semen, spermatogenesis.resumo Para um sucesso em programas de inseminação artificial, algumas precauções devem ser tomadas em relação aos reprodutores machos. Sabe-se que fatores ambientais podem alterar a secreção hormonal, a diferenciação celular que ocorre nos testículos, assim como o transporte e a maturação espermática no epidídimo. Um déficit nutricional pode levar a degeneração e distúrbios dos órgãos reprodutivos em diferentes graus e intensidade, afetando a fertilidade. O termo nutracêutico descreve produtos derivados dos alimentos, que podem fornecer benefícios adicionais a saúde, além dos valores básicos encontrados na dieta. Entre os vários nutracêuticos utilizados na reprodução, temos o ômega-3, arginina, vitaminas do complexo B, L-carnitina, β-caroteno e antioxidantes. Objetivou-se com essa revisão apresentar as principais substâncias utilizadas como nutracêuticos, com a finalidade de melhorar a qualidade seminal, obtendo resultados favoráveis dos garanhões com a monta natural ou a inseminação artificial.Palavras-chave: inseminação artificial, fertilidade, nutrição, sêmen, espermatogênese.

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Section: L-carnitinementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutraceutical in male reproduction

Freitas¹,

Oliveira

2018

Braz. J. Vet. Med.

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“…Certainly there are higher intracellular levels of L-carnitine and D-glutamate in porcine cauda epididymidal spermatozoa than those from the caput. 50,51 The uptake of carnitine into epididymal spermatozoa from the mouse has been demonstrated, and sperm expression of the organic cation (and carnitine) transporters OCTN2 and OCTN3 increases on maturation. 52 They are localized in the principal-and midpiece, respectively, but no mention of the droplets was made.…”

Section: Sperm Volume Regulation: the Fluid Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The epididymis, cytoplasmic droplets and male fertility

Cooper¹

2010

Asian J Androl

146

130

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The potential of spermatozoa to become motile during post-testicular maturation, and the relationship between the cytoplasmic droplet and fertilizing capacity are reviewed. Post-testicular maturation of spermatozoa involves the autonomous induction of motility, which can occur in vivo in testes with occluded excurrent ducts and in vitro in testicular explants, and artefactual changes in morphology that appear to occur in the testis in vitro. Both modifications may reflect time-dependent oxidation of disulphide bonds of head and tail proteins. Regulatory volume decrease (RVD), which counters sperm swelling at ejaculation, is discussed in relation to loss of cytoplasmic droplets and consequences for fertility. It is postulated that: (i) fertile males possess spermatozoa with sufficient osmolytes to drive RVD at ejaculation, permitting the droplet to round up and pinch off without membrane rupture; and (ii) infertile males possess spermatozoa with insufficient osmolytes so that RVD is inadequate, the droplet swells and the resulting flagellar angulation prevents droplet loss. Droplet retention at ejaculation is a harbinger of infertility caused by failure of the spermatozoon to negotiate the uterotubal junction or mucous and reach the egg. In this hypothesis, the epididymis regulates fertility indirectly by the extent of osmolyte provision to spermatozoa, which influences RVD and therefore droplet loss. Man is an exception, because ejaculated human spermatozoa retain their droplets. This may reflect their short midpiece, approximating head length, permitting a swollen droplet to extend along the entire midpiece; this not only obviates droplet migration and flagellar angulation but also hampers droplet loss. Keywords: epididymis; fertility; infertility; sperm maturation INTRODUCTION During passage of mammalian spermatozoa through the epididymal duct, the functionally incompetent germ cell produced by the testis is matured and stored. In this time (around 1-2 weeks in most species), the spermatozoon undergoes many changes that prepare it for achieving the diverse tasks required of it. At ejaculation, when it is rapidly expelled from the epididymis through the vas deferens to the world outside, the spermatozoon undergoes another phase in which it encounters fluids of the male accessory sex glands, escapes from them in the vagina, cervix or uterus, depending on species, and interacts with the oviductal lining before fertilizing the female gamete. Many mechanisms control the timing of these events, all of which require adequate responses by the fertilizing spermatozoon, and several of these have their origins in the epididymis. This paper addresses a few controversial, novel or still unanswered topics related to the maturation, volume regulation and morphology of spermatozoa.

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“…The intake of l-carnitine, quaternary ammonium compound (β-hydroxy-4-N-trimethylaminobutyric acid, C 7 H 15 NO 3 ), is ensured mainly by nutrition but the organism is also able to supply its need by an endogenous synthesis in liver, kidneys and brain tissue from the conversion of two essential amino acids lysine and methionine (Jeulin et al, 1994;Cibulka, 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its concentration in the epididymal plasma of boars ranges from 200 to 300 nmol/mg of protein (Jeulin et al, 1987). Free l-carnitine passes through the sperm plasma membrane by passive diffusion (Jeulin et al, 1994).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Semen characteristics of boars receiving control diet and control diet supplemented with L-carnitine

Čeřovský¹,

Frydrychová²,

Lustyková³

et al. 2009

CZECH J ANIM SCI

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AbStrAct:The objective of this experiment was to test a hypothesis that L-carnitine supplemented diet would improve semen characteristics in 6 adult crossbred AI boars (Hampshire × Pietrain). The control and the tested diet were identical except the tested period (8 weeks) when the diet was supplemented with 2 g of l-carnitine per boar per day. The semen was collected regularly weekly by a gloved-hand technique. Semen volume, sperm motility and concentration, proportion of alive sperm cells and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activity of semen were determined immediately after the semen collection once every two weeks. Sperm survival rate, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, seminal plasma mineral components and free amino acid concentration, l-carnitine concentration in semen plasma and in sperm cells were determined after the sample storage (-20°C) at a later time. The differences ascertained between the average values of semen characteristics in the control vs. tested period did not prove a true and unambiguous positive effect on boar semen parameters by dietary supplementation of l-carnitine as our data show in our study: volume (239.11 vs. 250.50 ml; P 0.518), sperm concentration (301.67 vs. 350.83 × 10 3 /mm 3 ; P 0.309), sperm progressive motility (66.94 vs. 70.00%; P 0.409), morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (29.00 vs. 27.46%; P 0.802), daily sperm cells output (9.86 vs. 11.71 × 10 9 ; P 0.206), proportion of alive sperm cells (72.56 vs. 74.13%; P 0.484), survival spermatozoa ability maintenance (43.29 vs. 38.68%; P < 0.01), mineral components in the seminal plasma (Na-, K-, Ca-, Mg-, Zn-; P from 0.138 to 0.968), AspAT activity (in semen plasma -132.50 vs. 128.31 mU/10 9 spermatozoa; P 0.830, in sperm cells -147.37 vs. 119.01 mU/10 9 spermatozoa; P 0.146), semen plasma amino acid concentration -a significant positive effect of L-carnitine in lysine only (0.79 vs.1.17 µmol/100 ml; P < 0.01), l-carnitine concentration (in semen plasma 255.40 vs. 259.97 mg/l; P 0.884, in sperm cells -1 110.68 vs. 883.58 mg/l; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the studied indicators of semen quality were not significantly enhanced by dietary supplementation of l-carnitine in adult AI boars.

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Uptake and release of free L-carnitine by boar epididymal spermatozoa in vitro and subsequent acetylation rate

Cited by 41 publications

References 3 publications

Nutraceutical in male reproduction

Nutraceutical in male reproduction

The epididymis, cytoplasmic droplets and male fertility

Semen characteristics of boars receiving control diet and control diet supplemented with L-carnitine

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