Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maximilian D. Lyon, Juan J. Ferreira, Ping Li, Shweta Bhagwat, Alice Butler, Kelsey Anderson, Maria Polo, Celia M. Santi
Summary: Sperm cells undergo a complex maturation process after ejaculation, including a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane potential. The ion channel responsible for this process, SLO3, was first cloned in 1998 and has since been studied for its role in sperm maturation and fertility. Recent evidence suggests that SLO3 is more widely expressed in some fish species and is rapidly evolving with low conservation between closely related species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingfeng Zhang, Yuanyue Shan, Duanqing Pei
Summary: Human Eag2 is a voltage-gated potassium channel that exhibits unique delayed rectifying gating kinetics. In this study, the authors elucidate the mechanism of how voltage opens the channel and sheds light on delayed rectifier gating. They use cryo-electron microscopy to capture multiple conformations of hEag2, revealing the dynamics of the selectivity filter and ion permeation pathway at the atomic level. The study also uncovers the involvement of the S4-S5 linker and an additional potassium ion in voltage transduction and the generation of delayed rectifier properties.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arturo Matamoros-Volante, Valeria Castillo-Viveros, Paulina Torres-Rodriguez, Marcela B. Trevino, Claudia L. Trevino
Summary: A novel strategy utilizing time-lapse flow cytometry (TLFC) was developed to determine capacitation-related physiological parameters in human sperm. TLFC was found to be a robust method for measuring absolute values of membrane potential and intracellular pH, as well as qualitatively evaluating changes in intracellular calcium concentration. Analysis of sperm samples from two types of donors revealed significant differences in these key physiological parameters between known paternity and no-known paternity samples.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sabrina Gacem, Maria Castello-Ruiz, Carlos O. Hidalgo, Carolina Tamargo, Pilar Santolaria, Carles Soler, Jesus L. Yaniz, Miguel A. Silvestre
Summary: The prediction of male or semen fertility potential remains a challenge. This study analyzed the in vitro parameters and proteome of spermatozoa in high- and low-fertility bulls. The results showed that high-fertility bulls had higher sperm motility and differential protein abundance related to energy production and motility, while low-fertility bulls had differential protein abundance related to protein processing and folding.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Anna Dziekonska, Marek Lecewicz, Agnieszka Partyka, Wojciech Nizanski
Summary: Flow cytometry (FC) is a recommended technique for assessing sperm quality, while fluorescence microscopy (FM) is often used as an alternative when FC is not accessible. In this study, FC and FM were used to evaluate the functionality of various organelles in European red deer epididymal spermatozoa stored in liquid nitrogen. The results showed that refrigerated storage of the epididymides for 12 hours had no significant effect on sperm quality before cryopreservation, but significantly influenced the percentage of early necrotic sperm after thawing. Despite differences in results, both FM and FC revealed significant correlations between examined variables, except for mitochondrial activity. The study concluded that European red deer spermatozoa stored in the epididymides at 2-4 degrees C for 12 hours can be successfully cryopreserved, with FM being better suited for evaluating mitochondrial activity and FC being more useful for assessing DNA fragmentation.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Chiara Castellini, Noemi Di Giammarco, Settimio D'Andrea, Antonio Parisi, Maria Totaro, Sandro Francavilla, Felice Francavilla, Arcangelo Barbonetti
Summary: The study shows that BPS and BPF appear to be safer alternatives to BPA for sperm biology, as they do not impact sperm mitochondrial functions, motility, and viability. These findings could assist regulatory agencies in identifying more secure chemicals for replacing BPA in industrial plastic production.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Camile Sanches Silva, Eliane Vianna da Costa-e-Silva, Margot Alves Nunes Dode, Andrielle Thainar Mendes Cunha, Wagner Rodrigues Garcia, Breno Fernandes Barreto Sampaio, Juliana Correa Borges Silva, Francisco Eduardo Machado Vaz, Karl Kerns, Peter Sutovsky, Eriklis Nogueira
Summary: Despite low usage in Brazilian bovine herds, artificial insemination is the most important form of biotechnology in animal reproduction. This study developed a novel composite model using qualitative attributes of semen to improve the prediction of bull fertility.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Francisco E. Martin-Cano, Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips, Laura Becerro-Rey, Eva da Silva, Javier Masot, Eloy Redondo, Antonio Silva-Rodriguez, Cristina Ortega-Ferrusola, Maria Cruz Gil, Fernando J. Pena
Summary: The presence of a more efficient glycolysis mechanism depending on pyruvate in stallion spermatozoa can counteract the detrimental effects of higher glucose concentrations. Incubating spermatozoa with 10 mM pyruvate in a modified Tyrode's media with 67 mM glucose showed increased motility and maintained viability. This improvement is attributed to the conversion of lactate to pyruvate and increased NAD(+) enhancing glycolysis efficiency.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gucan Dai, Teresa K. Aman, Frank DiMaio, William N. Zagotta
Summary: Sea urchin hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (spHCN) ion channels are activated by membrane hyperpolarization instead of depolarization and undergo inactivation with hyperpolarization. The study found that rotation of the C-linker was elicited by hyperpolarization in the absence but not the presence of cAMP, implying a conserved mechanism for CNBD-family channels.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Baptiste Martinet, Kimberly Przybyla, Camille Michielsens, Serge Aron
Summary: The transition from diploid-female egg production to haploid-male egg production during the decline phase of bumblebee colonies is associated with a decrease in sperm quantity and quality stored in the queen spermatheca over time. This study provides important insights into the reproductive mechanism of social Hymenoptera.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Andrology
Hatice Hande Kalem, Pinar Tulay, Tulay Irez
Summary: This study investigated sperm DNA apoptosis and viability in patients undergoing IUI and ICSI. The results showed that incubation of semen at high temperatures has detrimental effects on sperm DNA integrity. These tests can be beneficial for infertile couples to achieve pregnancy.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Carolina Maside, Sandra Recuero, Albert Salas-Huetos, Jordi Ribas-Maynou, Marc Yeste
Summary: Pig breeding relies on artificial insemination with liquid-stored semen, making it crucial to ensure high-quality sperm. Conventional methods for evaluating sperm quality include assessing concentration, motility, and morphology. However, additional tests, such as evaluating functional parameters and DNA integrity, may be necessary in boar studs with decreased reproductive performance.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zoe G. Nichols, Scott Rikard, Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi, William C. Walton, Ian A. E. Butts
Summary: The study revealed that sperm motility in Eastern oyster is regulated by extracellular K+, Ca2+, and Na+ ions, and salinity and pH levels also impact sperm activity and velocity. These findings not only contribute to understanding the physiological mechanisms in Eastern oyster, but also provide insights for artificial reproduction and sperm storage protocols.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Josiane de Lima Rosa, Camila de Paula Freitas Dell'Aqua, Fabiana Ferreira de Souza, Gabriela Missassi, Wilma De Grava Kempinas
Summary: Multiparametric analysis by flow cytometry allows for simultaneous assessment of multiple attributes in sperm evaluation, increasing predictive accuracy for fertility potential. Conventional microscopy techniques using fluorochromes are subjective and limited in assessing small cell numbers, affecting analytic accuracy. This study presents new possibilities for assessing sperm plasma membrane integrity, acrosome status, mitochondrial potential, and superoxide anion production using only 2 cytometric assays with flow cytometers equipped with 2 and 3 lasers. The results provide objective, sensitive, rapid, and reproducible methodologies for accurate diagnosis of male infertility caused by exposure to environmental toxicants.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Juan J. Ferreira, Pascale Lybaert, Lis C. Puga-Molina, Celia M. Santi
Summary: Our study shows that CatSper channels in mouse and human sperm are activated through alkaline conditions and the presence of HCO3-, leading to an influx of Ca2+. Furthermore, HCO3- activates the soluble adenylyl cyclase/protein kinase A pathway, which sensitizes CatSper channels to respond to membrane depolarization, allowing for Ca2+ influx.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arturo Matamoros-Volante, Valeria Castillo-Viveros, Paulina Torres-Rodriguez, Marcela B. Trevino, Claudia L. Trevino
Summary: A novel strategy utilizing time-lapse flow cytometry (TLFC) was developed to determine capacitation-related physiological parameters in human sperm. TLFC was found to be a robust method for measuring absolute values of membrane potential and intracellular pH, as well as qualitatively evaluating changes in intracellular calcium concentration. Analysis of sperm samples from two types of donors revealed significant differences in these key physiological parameters between known paternity and no-known paternity samples.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Gabriel Corkidi, Paul Hernandez-Herrera, Fernando Montoya, Hermes Gadelha, Alberto Darszon
Summary: This study presents a novel methodology for evaluating long-term kinematic and physiological parameters of individual free-swimming spermatozoa without requiring image segmentation. The method allows for analysis of head movement and flagellar beating for up to 9.2 minutes, showing significant alterations in sperm behavior when Ca2+ is released from internal stores.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Andrology
Cesar Rodrigo Coria-Gomez, Paulina Torres-Rodriguez, Lina Gabriela Villar-Munoz, Israel Jimenez-Medina, Ashok Agarwal, Ralf Henkel, Israel Maldonado-Rosas, Claudia L. Trevino
Summary: The introduction of the novel antioxidant EmbryORP(R) in the cryopreservation of spermatozoa can reduce the damage caused by ROS, but excessive antioxidant may be harmful to sperm. Therefore, exploring the optimal concentration and exposure time is recommended to maximize the benefits of EmbryORP(R).
Article
Andrology
Esperanza Mata-Martinez, Ana Alicia Sanchez-Tusie, Alberto Darszon, Luis S. Mayorga, Claudia L. Trevino, Gerardo A. De Blas
Summary: In human spermatozoa, the activation of Epac leads to the generation of a Ca2+ wave, which is essential for inducing the acrosome reaction and enhancing flagellar beat. This process involves a dynamic crosstalk between different intracellular Ca2+ stores, including mitochondria, nuclear envelope, and acrosome.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paula A. Balestrini, Claudia Sanchez-Cardenas, Guillermina M. Luque, Carolina Baro Graf, Jessica M. Sierra, Arturo Hernandez-Cruz, Pablo E. Visconti, Dario Krapf, Alberto Darszon, Mariano G. Buffone
Summary: The process of sperm capacitation is essential for fertilization capacity, resulting in acrosomal exocytosis. Em hyperpolarization has been shown to be necessary and sufficient to prepare human sperm for acrosomal exocytosis. This change in Em decreases Ca2+ oscillations, providing experimental evidence for the molecular mechanism underlying acrosomal responsiveness.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Sanchez-Cardenas, Ana Romarowski, Gerardo Orta, Jose Luis De la Vega-Beltran, David Martin-Hidalgo, Arturo Hernandez-Cruz, Pablo E. Visconti, Alberto Darszon
Summary: The study found that starvation increases intracellular Ca2+ levels and enhances the sperm's ability to undergo a progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. The CatSper channel remains active in starvation conditions, but an increase in Ca2+ levels was also observed in sperm from CatSper null mice. Addition of energy nutrients can reverse the effects of starvation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guillermina M. Luque, Xinran Xu, Ana Romarowski, Maria G. Gervasi, Gerardo Orta, Jose L. De la Vega-Beltran, Cintia Stival, Nicolas Gilio, Tomas Dalotto-Moreno, Dario Krapf, Pablo E. Visconti, Diego Krapf, Alberto Darszon, Mariano G. Buffone
Summary: The study found that Cdc42 and CatSper play crucial roles in sperm, with Cdc42 inhibition affecting CatSper activity and severely compromising the sperm's fertilizing potential. Cdc42 regulates the function of CatSper by modulating the production of cAMP, providing a new regulatory mechanism for stimulating CatSper through the cAMP-dependent pathway.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruiming Zhao, Hui Dai, Rodolfo J. Arias, Gerardo A. De Blas, Gerardo Orta, Martin A. Pavarotti, Rong Shen, Eduardo Perozo, Luis S. Mayorga, Alberto Darszon, Steve A. N. Goldstein
Summary: This study reveals the mechanism of albumin activation of hHv1 channels, enhancing open probability and proton current by binding to the channel voltage sensor domains. Alb activation is crucial for triggering sperm fertilization and sustaining immune inflammatory responses in neutrophils.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Andres Aldana, Jorge Carneiro, Gustavo Martinez-Mekler, Alberto Darszon
Summary: The acrosome reaction is a crucial exocytotic process in mammalian fertilization, involving various physiological changes that enable sperm to interact and fuse with eggs. However, questions remain regarding the molecular mechanisms regulating the acrosome reaction and the impact of physiological heterogeneity within sperm populations on the proportion capable of undergoing the reaction.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Esperanza Mata-Martinez, Claudia Sanchez-Cardenas, Julio C. Chavez, Adan Guerrero, Claudia L. Trevino, Gabriel Corkidi, Fernando Montoya, Paul Hernandez-Herrera, Mariano G. Buffone, Paula A. Balestrini, Alberto Darszon
Summary: Intracellular Ca2+ oscillations play a crucial role in regulating sperm motility and chemotaxis, with faster oscillations correlated with flagellar beat and slower oscillations triggered by compounds from the egg external envelope to regulate cell movement.
Article
Developmental Biology
Fang Yang, Maria Gracia Gervasi, Gerardo Orta, Darya A. Tourzani, Jose Luis De La Vega-Beltran, Gordon Ruthel, Alberto Darszon, Pablo E. Visconti, P. Jeremy Wang
Summary: The CatSper cation channel is essential for sperm capacitation and male fertility. The study identifies C2CD6 as a subunit of the CatSper complex and demonstrates its role in the formation of calcium signaling nanodomains on flagellar membranes. Deficiency of C2CD6 leads to male sterility due to depleted CatSper nanodomains and impaired sperm function. C2CD6 may facilitate the incorporation of CatSper complex into the flagellar plasma membrane and function as a calcium sensor.
Article
Cell Biology
Arlet Loza-Huerta, Hiram Pacheco-Castillo, Alberto Darszon, Carmen Beltran
Summary: Sperm motility in sea urchins is regulated by the interaction of protein kinase A and protein kinase C in the signaling pathway.
Article
Developmental Biology
Gabriela Carrasquel Martinez, Andres Aldana, Jorge Carneiro, Claudia Lydia Trevino, Alberto Darszon
Summary: Mammalian sperm capacitation, involving biochemical and physiological modifications, is a crucial step for successful fertilization. This study showed that the acrosome pH gradually increases during human sperm capacitation, and the V-ATPase plays a key role in regulating the acrosome acidity. These findings provide important insights into the factors influencing sperm fusion and fertilization.
MOLECULAR HUMAN REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
I. Lopez-Gonzalez, C. Sanchez-Cardenas, J. L. De la Vega-Beltran, B. Alvarado-Quevedo, J. P. Ocelotl-Oviedo, A. L. Gonzalez-Cota, A. Aldana, G. Orta, A. Darszon
Summary: Scanning ion-conductance microscopy revealed an external Ca2+ dependent ATP driven volume increase (ATPVI) in capacitated human sperm heads. The study investigated the involvement of purinergic receptors (PRs) P2X2R and P2X4R in ATPVI using their co-agonists progesterone and Ivermectin (Iver), as well as Cu2+ that activates P2X2Rs and inhibits P2X4Rs. The results suggested that P2X4Rs contribute to ATPVI and the ATP-induced acrosome reaction (AR) is regulated by Cu2+ and P2X4Rs.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Andrology
Gabriela Hernandez-Silva, Aidee S. Lopez-Torres, Israel Maldonado-Rosas, Esperanza Mata-Martinez, Fernando Larrea, Victor Torres-Flores, Claudia L. Trevino, Mayel Chirinos
Summary: The study compared the functional differences between human sperm samples processed by swim-up and density gradient centrifugation, revealing significant variations in redox state, intracellular calcium oscillations, hyperactivation, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and acrosome reaction. Sperm retrieved by density gradient centrifugation exhibited higher levels of hyperactivation and tyrosine phosphorylation compared to swim-up sperm, suggesting a greater degree of capacitation.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH
(2021)