Llavanera Marc, Mateo-Otero Yentel, Viñolas-Vergés Estel, Bonet Sergi, Yeste Marc
Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, ES-17003, Spain.
Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, ES-17003, Spain.
J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2024 Feb 1;15(1):10. doi: 10.1186/s40104-023-00988-0.
Despite their low abundance in sperm, mitochondria have diverse functions in this cell type, including energy production, signalling and calcium regulation. In humans, sperm mitochondrial DNA content (mtDNAc) has been reported to be negatively linked to sperm function and fertility. Yet, the association between mtDNAc and sperm function in livestock remains unexplored. For this reason, this study aimed to shed some light on the link between mtDNAc and sperm function and fertilising potential in pigs. A qPCR method for mtDNAc quantification was optimised for pig sperm, and the association of this parameter with sperm motility, kinematics, mitochondrial activity, and fertility was subsequently interrogated.
First, the qPCR method was found to be sensitive and efficient for mtDNAc quantification in pig sperm. By using this technique, mtDNAc was observed to be associated to sperm motility, mitochondrial activity and in vivo, but not in vitro, fertility outcomes. Specifically, sperm with low mtDNAc were seen to exhibit greater motility but decreased mitochondrial activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, samples with lower mtDNAc showed higher conception and farrowing rates, but similar in vitro fertilisation rates and embryo development, when compared to those with greater mtDNAc.
These findings enrich our comprehension of the association of mtDNAc with sperm biology, and lay the foundation for future research into employing this parameter as a molecular predictor for sperm function and fertility in livestock.
尽管线粒体在精子中的丰度较低，但在这种细胞类型中具有多种功能，包括能量产生、信号传导和钙调节。在人类中，据报道精子线粒体DNA含量（mtDNAc）与精子功能和生育能力呈负相关。然而，家畜中mtDNAc与精子功能之间的关联尚未得到探索。因此，本研究旨在阐明猪的mtDNAc与精子功能及受精潜力之间的联系。针对猪精子优化了一种用于mtDNAc定量的qPCR方法，随后研究了该参数与精子活力、运动学、线粒体活性和生育能力的关联。
首先，发现qPCR方法对猪精子中mtDNAc的定量敏感且有效。通过使用该技术，观察到mtDNAc与精子活力、线粒体活性以及体内（而非体外）生育结果相关。具体而言，mtDNAc低的精子表现出更高的活力，但线粒体活性和细胞内活性氧减少。有趣的是，与mtDNAc高的样本相比，mtDNAc低的样本显示出更高的受孕率和产仔率，但体外受精率和胚胎发育相似。
这些发现丰富了我们对mtDNAc与精子生物学关联的理解，并为未来将该参数用作家畜精子功能和生育能力的分子预测指标的研究奠定了基础。
