Kareskoski Maria, Vakkamäki Johanna, Laukkanen Kirsi, Palviainen Mari, Johannisson Anders, Katila Terttu
Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland.
Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Paroninkuja 20, 04920, Saarentaus, Finland.
Theriogenology. 2021 Apr 1;164:93-99. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.01.020. Epub 2021 Feb 2.
Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are gelatinases that take part in several reproductive processes. The aim of this study was to measure levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in fractionated stallion ejaculates, and to evaluate the association between these components and semen quality, and sperm longevity during cooled storage. Semen quality were assessed separately for sperm-rich fractions (HIGH), sperm-poor fractions (LOW), and whole ejaculate samples (WE) from 33 stallions. After cooled storage with SP either present or removed, sperm motility and DFI were determined. The relative activity of the pro-form of MMP-2, active MMP-2 and total MMP-9 were evaluated using gelatin zymography, and all were present in all fractions of the stallion's ejaculate, with higher relative activity of the latent than active forms and the highest relative activity in the HIGH fraction. The relative activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were positively correlated to sperm concentration and total sperm count, but only in the HIGH fraction and not in LOW or WE. The relative activities of MMPs were not related to differences in sperm longevity during cooled storage, measured as sperm motility and DFI. There was a harmful effect of SP on DFI during storage, but this effect was not associated with differences in the relative activities of MMPs. In conclusion, the relative activities of MMPs are not useful as markers for semen quality (other than sperm concentration), or sperm survival during storage in horses.
基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）-2和MMP-9是参与多种生殖过程的明胶酶。本研究的目的是测定种马分级射精中MMP-2和MMP-9的水平，并评估这些成分与精液质量以及冷藏期间精子寿命之间的关联。对33匹种马的富含精子部分（HIGH）、精子稀少部分（LOW）和全份射精样本（WE）的精液质量分别进行评估。在有或无精浆（SP）存在的情况下进行冷藏后，测定精子活力和DNA碎片化指数（DFI）。使用明胶酶谱法评估MMP-2前体形式、活性MMP-2和总MMP-9的相对活性，所有这些在种马射精的所有部分均有存在，其中潜在形式的相对活性高于活性形式，且在HIGH部分相对活性最高。MMP-2和MMP-9的相对活性与精子浓度和总精子数呈正相关，但仅在HIGH部分如此，在LOW或WE部分则不然。MMPs的相对活性与冷藏期间以精子活力和DFI衡量的精子寿命差异无关。储存期间SP对DFI有有害影响，但这种影响与MMPs相对活性的差异无关。总之，MMPs的相对活性不能作为马匹精液质量（精子浓度除外）或储存期间精子存活的标志物。
