Deep Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Alterations in Fatty Acid Synthesis and Ketone Body Degradations in Spermatozoa and Seminal Plasma of Astheno-Oligozoospermic Bulls.

Male fertility is extremely important in dairy animals because semen from a single bull is used to inseminate several thousand females. Asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) and oligozoospermia (reduced sperm concentration) are the two important reasons cited for idiopathic infertility in crossbred bulls; however, the etiology remains elusive. In this study, using a non-targeted liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry-based approach, we carried out a deep metabolomic analysis of spermatozoa and seminal plasma derived from normozoospermic and astheno-oligozoospermic bulls.

Comparative proteomic analysis of high- and low-fertile buffalo bull spermatozoa for identification of fertility-associated proteins.

The present study identified few potential proteins in the spermatozoa of buffalo bulls that can be used as an aid in fertility determination through comparative proteomics. The sperm proteome of high-fertile buffalo bulls was compared with that of low-fertile buffalo bulls using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), and the differentially expressed proteins were identified through mass spectrometric method. The protein interaction network and the functional bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed proteins were also carried out.

Identification of biomarker candidates for fertility in spermatozoa of crossbred bulls through comparative proteomics.

Associations between expression of some proteins in spermatozoa and fertility have been sought in recent years to identify the male fertility markers. Since the incidence of sub-fertility is high in crossbred bulls, the present investigation was carried out on high- and low-fertile crossbred bulls to identify fertility markers in spermatozoa through proteomics approach. Sperm proteome of high-fertile bulls were compared with low-fertile bulls using 2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF-MS techniques and the results were validated with immuno-blotting.

Comparative proteomic analysis of Taurine, Indicine, and crossbred (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) bull spermatozoa for identification of proteins related to sperm malfunctions and subfertility in crossbred bulls.

Subfertility is one of the most common problems observed among Taurine × Indicine crossbred bulls in tropical countries; however, the etiology remain unknown in most of the cases. In present study, we compared the proteomic profile of spermatozoa from crossbred bulls (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) against their purebred parent lines (Holstein Friesian [Taurine] and Tharparkar [Indicine]) to find out alteration in expressions of proteins, if any. The proteomic profiles of freshly ejaculated spermatozoa from these breeds were compared by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis, and differentially expressed proteins were identified through mass spectrometry.

Testicular cell indices and peripheral blood testosterone concentrations in relation to age and semen quality in crossbred (holstein friesian×tharparkar) bulls.

Present study analyzed the changes in peripheral blood testosterone concentrations and testicular cytogram in relation to age and semen quality in crossbred males. Three different age groups of crossbred males viz. bull calves (6 months, n = 5), young bulls (15 months, n = 5) and adult bulls (4 to 6 years, n = 8) were utilized for the study.