Seven experiments were conducted to study the effect of freezing extenders, antioxidants, motility stimulants, thawing temperature, incubation temperature and time, centrifugation and capacitation on sperm chromatin instability (CI) as well as the influence of sperm CI on pregnancy rates of heifers (n = 360) after AI with frozen semen. Semen was collected once a week from Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousine bulls (n = 3/breed) via an artificial vagina and only individual ejaculates (n = 300) of >0.3 x 10(9) sperm/ml and >or= 70% progressive motility were used. Sperm CI was evaluated by nuclear DNA susceptibility to acid-induced denaturation using acridine orange fluorescence and by chromatin susceptibility to decondensation using quantitative transmission electron microscopy. Bioxcell extender was better than AndroMed and egg yolk extenders in terms of low incidence of sperm CI in one bull (p < 0.05). Neither antioxidants (EDTA-2Na, Na-pyruvate and albumin) nor motility stimulants (caffeine and blood serum) had any significant effect on sperm CI. Thawing of frozen semen at 45 degrees C for 30 s decreased (p < 0.025) CI in one bull. Incubation of frozen sperm at 25 and 39 degrees C for 240 min increased sperm CI percentages from 3.47 +/- 0.48 and 4.50 +/- 0.41% to 6.70 +/- 0.36 and 9.71 +/- 0.53%, respectively (p < 0.001). Although centrifugation and removal of extracellular milieu increased CI of cooled sperm, it decreased CI of frozen-thawed sperm (p < 0.025). Follicular fluid as a capacitating agent destabilized chromatin structure (p < 0.001). Sperm vulnerability to CI had a negative impact (r(2) = 0.37-0.77, p < 0.001) on fertility of frozen ejaculates. In conclusion, in vitro manipulation of bovine semen can influence incidence of sperm CI, whereas integrity of sperm chromatin contributes significantly to heifers' fertility. We would recommend selection of the appropriate extender and thawing temperature for each bull together with careful manipulation of frozen semen to minimize damage of sperm chromatin.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01301.x | DOI Listing |
Commun Biol
January 2025
Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Cochin, F-75014, Paris, France.
The H3K79 methyltransferase DOT1L is essential for multiple aspects of mammalian development where it has been shown to regulate gene expression. Here, by producing and integrating epigenomic and spike-in RNA-seq data, we decipher the molecular role of DOT1L during mouse spermatogenesis and show that it has opposite effects on gene expression depending on chromatin environment. On one hand, DOT1L represses autosomal genes that are devoid of H3K79me2 at their bodies and located in H3K27me3-rich/H3K27ac-poor environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNucleic Acids Res
January 2025
Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
Chromatin remodeling, which involves the histone-to-protamine exchange process during spermiogenesis, is crucial for sperm nuclear condensation and male fertility. However, the key regulators and underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this process remain largely unexplored. In this study, we discovered that deficiency in the family with sequence similarity 170 member A (Fam170a) led to abnormal sperm nuclear morphology and male infertility in mice, mirroring the observation of very low Fam170a transcription levels in sperm of infertile men with teratozoospermia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Reprod Biomed
November 2024
Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Background: In infertility clinics, long-time preserving high-quality spermatozoa is a challenging problem.
Objective: The present study aimed to prolong preserving of the human spermatozoa by adding pentoxifylline (PT) and L-carnitine (LC) without using high-cost freezing techniques.
Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, semen samples of 26 normozoospermia men aged between 28-34 yr, were firstly prepared using the swim-up technique, and each sample was divided into the following 3 aliquots: untreated control group, the LC, and PT-treated groups.
Genes (Basel)
January 2025
Third Department of Urology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
Male reproductive health is governed by an intricate interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms-encompassing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity-are crucial both for spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. However, oxidative stress, driven by excessive reactive oxygen species, disrupts these processes, leading to impaired sperm function and male infertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIran J Basic Med Sci
January 2025
Artemia & Aquaculture Research Institute, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Objectives: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to disrupt testicular anti-oxidant capacity, leading to oxidative stress (OS) that can negatively affect male fertility by damaging sperm DNA. Heat shock proteins (HSP70 and HSP90), in association with transitional proteins (TP1 and TP2), play crucial roles in protecting sperm DNA integrity in oxidative conditions. Whiteleg shrimp protein hydrolysates (HPs) exhibit anti-oxidant properties, prompting this study to explore the potential of HPs in ameliorating NAFLD-induced testicular damage.
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