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Neurosensory perception of environmental cues modulates sperm motility critical for fertilization.

ABSTRACT: Environmental exposures affect gamete function and fertility, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that pheromones sensed by ciliated neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans nose alter the lipid microenvironment within the oviduct, thereby affecting sperm motility. In favorable environments, pheromone-responsive sensory neurons secrete a transforming growth factor-? ligand called DAF-7, which acts as a neuroendocrine factor that stimulates prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase [cyclooxygenase (Cox)]-independent prostaglandin synthesis in the ovary. Oocytes secrete F-class prostaglandins that guide sperm toward them. These prostaglandins are also synthesized in Cox knockout mice, raising the possibility that similar mechanisms exist in other animals. Our data indicate that environmental cues perceived by the female nervous system affect sperm function.

SUBMITTER: McKnight K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4094289 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Neurosensory perception of environmental cues modulates sperm motility critical for fertilization.

McKnight Katherine K Hoang Hieu D HD Prasain Jeevan K JK Brown Naoko N Vibbert Jack J Hollister Kyle A KA Moore Ray R Ragains Justin R JR Reese Jeff J Miller Michael A MA

Science (New York, N.Y.) 20140501 6185

Environmental exposures affect gamete function and fertility, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that pheromones sensed by ciliated neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans nose alter the lipid microenvironment within the oviduct, thereby affecting sperm motility. In favorable environments, pheromone-responsive sensory neurons secrete a transforming growth factor-β ligand called DAF-7, which acts as a neuroendocrine factor that stimulates prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase [cy ...[more]

PMID: 24833393

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Project description:Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, is a highly commercial seafood in Southeast Asia. The present study aimed to determine the influence of saccharides and vitamins on post-thaw sperm quality, ATP content, fertilization capacity, hatching capacity, and mRNA content of motility and fertilization-associated genes of Pacific abalone. Sperm cryopreserved using saccharides improved the post-thaw sperm quality including motility, acrosome integrity (AI), plasma membrane integrity (PMI), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). However, vitamins (l-ascorbic acid) did not result in any significant improvement in sperm quality. Sperm cryopreserved using saccharides also improved ATP content, DNA integrity, and mRNA content of motility and fertilization-associated genes of post-thaw sperm than sperm cryopreserved without saccharides. Among sperm cryopreserved using different saccharides, post-thaw sperm quality indicators (except PMI) and mRNA content of motility and fertilization-associated genes did not show significant differences between sperm cryopreserved using 3% sucrose (S) combined with 8% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and sperm cryopreserved using 1% glucose (G) combined with 8% ethylene glycol (EG). However, sperm cryopreserved using 3% S + 8% DMSO showed higher post-thaw sperm quality (motility: 58.4 ± 2.9%, AI: 57.1 ± 3.2%, PMI: 65.3 ± 3.3%, and MMP: 59.1 ± 3.2%), ATP content (48.4 ± 1.8 nmol/ml), and % DNA in tail (2.09 ± 0.20%) than sperm cryopreserved using other saccharides. When sperms were cryopreserved using 3% S + 8% DMSO, the mRNA content of motility (heat shock protein 70, HSP70; heat shock protein 90, HSP90; protein kinase A, PKA-C; axonemal protein 66.0, Axpp66.0; and tektin-4) and fertilization-associated (sperm protein 18 kDa, SP18 kDa) genes were higher than in sperm cryopreserved using other saccharides. However, changes in the mRNA contents of these genes were insignificant between sperm cryopreserved using 3% S + 8% DMSO and 1% G + 8% EG. Taken together, these results indicate that cryopreservation using 3% S + 8% DMSO can improve post-thaw sperm quality and mRNA contents better than other examined cryoprotectants. The present study suggests that 3% S + 8% DMSO is a suitable cryoprotectant for sperm cryopreservation and molecular conservation of this valuable species.

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Neurosensory perception of environmental cues modulates sperm motility critical for fertilization.

Publications

Neurosensory perception of environmental cues modulates sperm motility critical for fertilization.

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