Expression of Immune Regulatory Genes in the Porcine Internal Genital Tract Is Differentially Triggered by Spermatozoa and Seminal Plasma

Abstract

Mating or cervical deposition of spermatozoa or seminal plasma (SP) modifies the expression of genes affecting local immune defense processes at the oviductal sperm reservoir in animals with internal fertilization, frequently by down-regulation. Such responses may occur alongside sperm transport to or even beyond the reservoir. Here, immune-related gene expression was explored with cDNA microarrays on porcine cervix-to-infundibulum tissues, pre-/peri-ovulation. Samples were collected 24 h post-mating or cervical deposition of sperm-peak spermatozoa or SP (from the sperm-peak fraction or the whole ejaculate). All treatments of this interventional study affected gene expression. The concerted action of spermatozoa and SP down-regulated chemokine and cytokine (P00031), interferon-gamma signaling (P00035), and JAK/STAT (P00038) pathways in segments up to the sperm reservoir (utero-tubal junction (UTJ)/isthmus). Spermatozoa in the vanguard sperm-peak fraction (P1-AI), uniquely displayed an up-regulatory effect on these pathways in the ampulla and infundibulum. Sperm-free SP, on the other hand, did not lead to major effects on gene expression, despite the clinical notion that SP mitigates reactivity by the female immune system after mating or artificial insemination.

Chicken seminal fluid lacks CD9‐ and CD44‐bearing extracellular vesicles

“…sperm transport, to sperm motility and function and to the induction of genetic regulation of the immune system of the female increasing towards tolerance of the foreign paternal spermatozoa and accompanying proteins Atikuzzaman, Sanz, et al, 2017) in a manner similar to that which has been reported in mammals (Alvarez-Rodriguez, Atikuzzaman, Venhoranta, Wright, & Rodriguez-Martinez, 2019;Barranco et al, 2015;Rodríguez-Martínez et al, 2009). The chicken SF is, via this conserved interaction with the female immune function, capable of influencing fertility Atikuzzaman, Sanz, et al, 2017).…”

“…Avian SF contains hundreds of proteins and peptides (including antioxidative enzymes and cytokines), many of them conserved over taxa (Atikuzzaman, Alvarez‐Rodriguez, et al, ). The chicken SF plays a crucial role in several important functions, from modulating sperm transport, to sperm motility and function and to the induction of genetic regulation of the immune system of the female increasing towards tolerance of the foreign paternal spermatozoa and accompanying proteins (Atikuzzaman, Alvarez‐Rodriguez, et al, ; Atikuzzaman, Sanz, et al, ) in a manner similar to that which has been reported in mammals (Alvarez‐Rodriguez, Atikuzzaman, Venhoranta, Wright, & Rodriguez‐Martinez, ; Barranco et al, ; Rodríguez‐Martínez et al, ). The chicken SF is, via this conserved interaction with the female immune function, capable of influencing fertility (Atikuzzaman, Alvarez‐Rodriguez, et al, ; Atikuzzaman, Sanz, et al, ).…”

“…However, not only do the EVs carry ncRNAs, and specific proteins; lipoproteins are also carriers with similar delivery capacity for miRNAs, both low‐density (LDL) and particularly high‐density lipoproteins (HDL) (Vickers, Palmisano, Shoucri, Shamburek, & Remaley, ). Since exosomes are comprised to a large extent by membrane lipids, further studies are needed to aid in the more accurate isolation and classification of the different EVs (Piehl et al, ; Skotland, Hessvik, Sandvig, & Llorente, ) and to determine their eventual protective role on chicken spermatozoa (Atikuzzaman, Alvarez‐Rodriguez, et al, ) and its signalling for already documented changes in gene expression by the female genital tract, including immune process genes (Alvarez‐Rodriguez, Atikuzzaman, et al, ; Bai et al, ).…”

Does the Pre-Ovulatory Pig Oviduct Rule Sperm Capacitation In Vivo Mediating Transcriptomics of Catsper Channels?

“…Samples from 2 different segments of the oviduct: the utero-tubal junction (UTJ) and isthmus (Isth) were surgically retrieved under general anesthesia, 24 h after the mating/AIs [10].…”

“…It appears to evoke an inflammatory response towards the acquisition of the so-called maternal state of immune tolerance [9]. A recent study has demonstrated the activation of a local immune response in the endometrium and the oviduct as rapidly as 24 h after semen or even seminal plasma (SP) has been deposited in the porcine female genital tract [10].…”