Protein profile of the seminal plasma of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

This study was conducted to characterize the major proteins of the peccary seminal plasma, based on the semen samples collected from nine adult and reproductively sound animals. Our approach included the use of two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by Coomassie blue staining and analysis of polypeptide maps with PDQuest Software (Bio-Rad). Proteins were identified by tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We detected 179 protein spots per gel and 98 spots were identified by mass spectrometry, corresponding to 23 different proteins. The combined intensity of those spots accounted for 56.2G6% of the intensities of all spots and 60.9% of the intensities of spots presented in every protein map. Protein spots identified as clusterin represented 19.7G8.3% of the integrated optical densities of all spots detected in the seminal plasma maps. There was a negative association (rZK0.87; P!0.05) between the intensity of a clusterin spot and the percentage of sperm with functional membrane. Spermadhesin porcine seminal plasma protein 1 and bodhesin 2 comprised 5.4G1.9 and 8.8G3.9% of the total intensity of all spots respectively. Many proteins appeared in a polymorphic pattern, such as clusterin (27 spots), epididymal secretory glutathione peroxidase (ten spots), inter-a-trypsin inhibitor (12 spots), and IgG-binding protein (ten spots), among others. In conclusion, we presently describe the major seminal plasma proteome of the peccary, which exhibits a distinct high expression of clusterin isoforms. Knowledge of wild species reproductive biology is crucial for an understanding of their survival strategies and adaptation in a changing environment.

Protein signatures of seminal plasma from bulls with contrasting frozen-thawed sperm viability

“…Seminal plasma clusterin is inversely related to the population of morphologically normal sperm in bulls 52 and seems to selectively bind sperm with morphologic defects 53 . We have reported that clusterin is consistently expressed in the seminal plasma of several species, such as bulls 7,14,33 , rams 36 , boars 44 , peccaries 45 and dogs 54 , among others. It seems therefore that males have a selected group of components which we define as "seminal plasma sperm-protecting molecules".…”

Proteomic landscape of seminal plasma associated with dairy bull fertility

“…CLU is a chaperone and protects sperm against complement-mediated attack 53 and against the effects of protein precipitation 54 . Clusterin contributes to removal of defective spermatozoa and is an indicator of poor semen quality in bulls 55 , rams 56 , men 57 , stallions 58 and peccaries 59 . Also, seminal plasma CLU is inversely associated with the number of normal sperm in beef cattle 60 and a positive association exists between abnormal morphology of sperm head and clusterin expression after scrotal insulation of Holstein bulls 55 .…”

Relationship between Clusterin Gene Expression and In-vitro Sperm Characteristics in Caprine Semen

“…CLU expression was negatively associated with the percentage of normal sperm morphology (Santos et al, 2014). But, positive correlation exists between levels of ROS and percentage of spermatozoa with many kinds of abnormalities like, abnormal heads, acrosome abnormalities, mid piece anomalies, cytoplasmic droplets and tail defects (Sabeti et al, 2016).…”

“…CLU present in the rete testis fluid is synthesized by Sertoli cells and adheres to the surface of testicular spermatozoa. When spermatozoa move through the rete testis and efferent duct, testis-derived CLU is replaced by CLU from the epididymal or seminal vesicle (Griffiths et al, 2009).CLU expression is negatively associated with the percentage of normal sperm morphology (Santos et al, 2014) and high expression of CLU promotes the uptake of stress-damaged proteins by dendritic cells in male reproductive tract (Merlotti et al, 2015).…”