Identification of hub genes and their expression profiling for predicting buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen quality and fertility.

Sperm transcriptomics provide insights into subtle differences in sperm fertilization competence. For predicting the success of complex traits like male fertility, identification of hub genes involved in various sperm functions are essential. The bulls from the transcriptome profiled samples (n = 21), were grouped into good and poor progressive motility (PM), acrosome integrity (AI), functional membrane integrity (FMI) and fertility rate (FR) groups.

Relationship among seminal antigenicity, antioxidant status and metabolically active sperm from Holstein-Friesian () bulls.

Sperm antigenicity has been implicated as a regulatory factor for acquiring fertilizing competence in the female reproductive tract. Overt immune response against the sperm proteins leads to idiopathic infertility. Hence, the aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the auto-antigenic potential of sperm on the antioxidant status, metabolic activities and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bovine.

Cryostress induces fragmentation and alters the abundance of sperm transcripts associated with fertilizing competence and reproductive processes in buffalo.

The study aimed to assess the influence of cryostress on RNA integrity and functional significance in sperm fertilizing ability. The fresh and post-thawed buffalo sperm (n = 6 each) samples were evaluated for their functional attributes, and sperm total RNA was subjected to transcriptome sequencing followed by validation using real-time PCR and dot blot. Overall, 6911 genes had an expression of FPKM > 1, and among these 431 genes were abundantly expressed (FPKM > 20) in buffalo sperm.

X chromosome-linked genes in the mature sperm influence semen quality and fertility of breeding bulls.

The role of sperm expressed X-linked genes on bull fertility has not been studied in detail. The objective of the present study was to assess the influence of X-linked genes on the sperm functional parameters and field fertility rate in the Holstein Friesian cattle (n = 12) and Murrah buffalo (n = 7) bulls. The enrichment analysis (cattle = 8; buffalo = 8) of the X-linked genes was carried out using retrospective RNA-seq data and mRNA expression levels of functionally relevant genes were validated using the RT-qPCR.

Sperm preparedness and adaptation to osmotic and pH stressors relate to functional competence of sperm in Bos taurus.

The adaptive ability of sperm in the female reproductive tract micromilieu signifies the successful fertilization process. The study aimed to analyze the preparedness of sperm to the prevailing osmotic and pH stressors in the female reproductive tract. Fresh bovine sperm were incubated in 290 (isosmotic-control), 355 (hyperosmotic-uterus and oviduct), and 420 (hyperosmotic-control) mOsm/kg and each with pH of 6.

Current scenario and challenges ahead in application of spermatogonial stem cell technology in livestock.

Purpose: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the source for the mature male gamete. SSC technology in humans is mainly focusing on preserving fertility in cancer patients. Whereas in livestock, it is used for mining the factors associated with male fertility.

Supraphysiological concentration of urea affects the functional competence of Holstein-Friesian (Bos taurus) sperm.

To understand the effects of urea on sperm functional attributes, fresh bull semen (n = 12) was subjected to four different concentrations (mg/mL) of urea to mimic the physiological (0.04 and 0.13), supraphysiological (0.

Establishment of bioinformatics pipeline for deciphering the biological complexities of fragmented sperm transcriptome.

Despite the development of several tools for the analysis of the transcriptome data, non-availability of a standard pipeline for analyzing the low quality and fragmented mRNA samples pose a major challenge to the computational molecular biologist for effective interpretation of the data. Hence the present study aimed to establish a bioinformatics pipeline for analyzing the biologically fragmented sperm RNA. Sperm transcriptome data (2 x 75 PE sequencing) generated from bulls (n = 8) of high-fertile (n = 4) and low-fertile (n = 4) classified based on the fertility rate (41.

Orchestrating the expression levels of sperm mRNAs reveals as an important determinant of semen quality and bull fertility.

Bulls with acceptable semen quality vary in actual field fertility and this can be elucidated by studying the expression levels of mRNAs in the sperm. The present study aimed at assessing the variations in the sperm gene expression levels of and in bulls differing in fertility status. Frozen semen samples from Holstein-Friesian bulls were classified into high-fertile ( = 8, average field conception rate = 46.

Elucidating the processes and pathways enriched in buffalo sperm proteome in regulating semen quality.

Sperm carries a reservoir of proteins regulating the molecular functions to attain functional competence. Semen samples collected from buffalo bulls were assessed for sperm functional attributes (n = 11) and proteome profiling (n = 6). Sperm proteins were extracted and profiled by employing LC-MS/MS.

Seminal antigenicity affects mitochondrial membrane potential and acrosome reaction ability of the spermatozoa during cryopreservation.

The objective of this study was to assess the influence of spermatozoa surface antigenic proteins on the functional competence of bovine neat and frozen-thawed semen. The breeding bulls (n = 38) were screened for seminal antigenic levels in neat semen based on the agglutination titrations with anti-sperm antibody (ASA). Bulls having high (n = 8) and low (n = 7) antigenic levels were selected and spermatozoa functional parameters were analyzed in neat and frozen-thawed semen samples.

Dietary boron supplementation enhances sperm quality and immunity through influencing the associated biochemical parameters and modulating the genes expression at testicular tissue.

Introduction: Dietary boron improves immune and antioxidant status and calcium metabolism in mammals. However, till date the effects of dietary boron supplementation on male reproduction, especially on sperm production and sperm quality in farm animals are not documented.

Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of dietary boron on semen production, semen quality, immunity and molecular changes in the testis, blood and seminal plasma and to assess the interrelationship with other minerals in male goats.

Isolation and enrichment of putative spermatogonial stem cells from ram (Ovis aries) testis.

The present study aimed to isolate and enrich putative SSCs from ram testes, which are positive for promyelocytic leukaemia zinc-finger protein (PLZF). The putative SSCs were isolated using a combination of enzymes with different concentrations, collagenase (1 and 2 mg/ml), hyaluronidase (1 mg/ml) and trypsin (0.25 and 0.

IGF1 stabilizes sperm membrane proteins to reduce cryoinjury and maintain post-thaw sperm motility in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa.

Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) in the seminal plasma is reported to improve sperm motility by reducing oxidative stress. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of addition of IGF1 on sperm function and protein composition during cryopreservation process. Semen samples were collected from six Murrah buffaloes (2 ejaculates from each animal) and diluted (80 million/ml) in tris egg yolk extender and divided into control, T1, T2 and T3, groups supplemented with 0, 50, 100 and 150 ng of IGF1/mL, respectively.