The proteome of pig spermatozoa is remodelled during ejaculation

ABSTRACT: Proteins are essential for sperm function, including fertilizing capacity. Pig spermatozoa, emitted in well-defined ejaculate fractions, clearly vary in their functionality, which would be related to differences in protein composition. This study aimed firstly to update the porcine sperm proteome and secondly to identify proteins differentially expressed among mature spermatozoa from cauda epididymis and those fortuitously delivered in different ejaculate portions. Nine ejaculates from nine mature and fertile boars were manually collected in three separate ejaculate portions: the first 10 mL of sperm-rich ejaculate fraction (SRF), the rest of SRF and the post-SRF. The contents of cauda epididymides of the same boars was collected post-mortem by perfusion. All samples were centrifuged, pooling the resulting sperm pellets within the respective source-sample, which were later split to generate two technical replicates per source. The final eight sperm samples were subjected to iTRAQ-based 2D-LC-MS/MS for protein identification and quantification. A total of 1,723 proteins were identified (974 of Sus Scrofa taxonomy) and 1,602 of them were also quantified (960 of Sus Scrofa taxonomy). After an ANOVA test, 32 Sus Scrofa proteins showed quantitative differences (P < 0.01) among the sperm samples, which were particularly relevant for the functionality of spermatozoa fortuitously ejaculated in the post-SRF. The present study is the first showing quantitative differences in the protein profile of mature spermatozoa, involving proteins clearly implicated in sperm function, that prove the protein profile of boar spermatozoa is remodelled during ejaculation . These findings provide a valuable groundwork for further studies focused on identifying protein biomarkers of sperm fertility.

INSTRUMENT(S): TripleTOF 5600

ORGANISM(S): Sus Scrofa Domesticus (domestic Pig)

TISSUE(S): Spermatozoid, Sperm

DISEASE(S): Infertility

SUBMITTER: Luz Valero  

LAB HEAD: Jordi Roca

PROVIDER: PXD010062 | Pride | 2018-10-02

REPOSITORIES: Pride