Assessment of Semen Respiratory Activity of Domesticated Species before and after Cryopreservation: Boars, Bulls, Stallions, Reindeers and Roosters

Abstract

To assess sperm quality, it is important to evaluate energy metabolism. The test substance 2.4-dinitrophenol (2.4-DNP) is an agent for destroying oxidative phosphorylation. 2.4-DNP shuts off the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from oxidation and then, the respiration rate increases. If the respiratory chain is damaged, there is little or no response to adding 2.4-DNP. The aim of this study was to analyze the respiratory activity and oxidative phosphorylation in semen before and after freezing and compare the obtained data with the fertilizing ability of sperm. There was a reduction in sperm respiration rates in all species after thawing. The respiration of spermatozoa of boars, bulls, stallions, reindeers and chicken showed responses to 2.4-dinitrophenol. The only difference is in the strength of the response to the test substance. After freezing and thawing, respiratory stimulation by 2.4-DNP decreased. The results of our study show that respiration rate is not correlated with pregnancy rates and egg fertility. However, there was a high correlation between the stimulation of respiration by 2.4-dinitrophenol and pregnancy rates. The test for an increase in respiration rate after adding 2.4-dinitrophenol could be a suitable test of the fertilizing ability of sperm.

Bull Sperm SWATH-MS-Based Proteomics Reveals Link between High Fertility and Energy Production, Motility Structures, and Sperm–Oocyte Interaction

“…This energetic process seems to play a key role in the capacitation process; in fact, bull spermatozoa depend on OXPHOS to support capacitation. , Motility is another important and energy-intensive process in fertilization. However, the predominant mechanism for ATP production is not clear and seems to be species-dependent: species like human, sheep, or cattle support motility with glycolysis, but other species like boar or horse mainly use OXPHOS. − Tourmente and colleagues, showed a direct relationship between the respiratory activity, the sperm ATP content, and the improvement of different motility parameters. Additionally, MMP is described as a sperm motility indicator, and its reduction diminishes sperm motility and fertilization capacity .…”