Jovicić M, Pintus E, Fenclova T, Simonik O, Chmelikova E, Ros-Santaella J L, Sedmikova M
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 129, Prague 165 00, Czech Republic.
Pol J Vet Sci. 2018 Mar;21(1):73-82. doi: 10.24425/119024.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a major gasotransmitter involved in several physiological processes of male reproduction. There is, nevertheless, little information concerning the role of NO during semen storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of NO on boar semen stored at 17oC for 72 h. For this purporse, sperm samples were treated with 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mM aminoguanidine (AG) or Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), a selective and non-selective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, respectively. Moreover, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, was used at the dose of 18.75, 37.5, 75, and 150 μM. Sperm motility, membrane integrity, and acrosomal status were evaluated at 0, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h of semen storage. A significant increase of the amplitude of lateral sperm head displacement (ALH), and both curvilinear and straight-line velocity (VCL and VSL, respectively) was observed at 72 h of semen storage in samples treated with 0.625 mM AG, probably because of the antioxidant properties of this NOS inhibitor. Contrarily, 0.625 mM L-NAME showed no effect on boar sperm parameters during the entire period of semen storage. Moreover, AG and L-NAME at 10 mM negatively affected sperm kinetics and acrosome integrity, which may provide further support to the notion that low NO levels are necessary for a normal sperm function. The concentrations of SNP used in this study had mostly no or negative effects on boar sperm parameters during semen storage. In conclusion, the results from this study increase the understanding of the role of NO on boar sperm physiology.
一氧化氮（NO）是一种主要的气体递质，参与雄性生殖的多个生理过程。然而，关于NO在精液储存过程中的作用，目前所知甚少。本研究的目的是评估NO对在17℃储存72小时的公猪精液的影响。为此，精子样本分别用0.625、1.25、2.5、5和10 mM的氨基胍（AG）或Nω-硝基-L-精氨酸甲酯盐酸盐（L-NAME）处理，它们分别是选择性和非选择性一氧化氮合酶（NOS）抑制剂。此外，使用了18.75、37.5、75和150 μM剂量的一氧化氮供体硝普钠（SNP）。在精液储存的0、4、24、48和72小时评估精子活力、膜完整性和顶体状态。在用0.625 mM AG处理的样本中，在精液储存72小时时观察到精子头部侧向位移幅度（ALH）以及曲线速度和直线速度（分别为VCL和VSL）显著增加，这可能是由于这种NOS抑制剂的抗氧化特性。相反，0.625 mM L-NAME在精液储存的整个期间对公猪精子参数没有影响。此外，10 mM的AG和L-NAME对精子动力学和顶体完整性有负面影响，这可能进一步支持低水平NO对正常精子功能是必需的这一观点。本研究中使用的SNP浓度在精液储存期间对公猪精子参数大多没有影响或有负面影响。总之，本研究结果增进了对NO在公猪精子生理学中作用的理解。
