Project description:The orangutan (Pongo spp., Linnaeus, 1760) is the most endangered great ape, classified as critically endangered. Sperm cryopreservation is a valuable tool for banking genetic resources and solving the complexities of relocating animals; however, cryopreservation protocols remain suboptimal for this species. Due to their phylogenetic closeness, this study aimed to explore the applicability of a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes, Blumenbach, 1775) sperm cryopreservation protocol to orangutans. To guide further modifications to the protocol, we revealed, for the first time, the comprehensive lipidomic and proteomic characterizations of orangutan ejaculates with parallel comparisons to chimpanzee ejaculates. Functional analyses of oxidative and osmotic stress responses were also conducted to provide valuable evidence of the physiological changes and defense mechanisms associated with sperm cryodamage. The cross-species multi-omic analyses showed that compared to chimpanzee, the orangutan sperm lipid profile presented significant alterations after the freezing-thawing process, notably showing significant cholesterol loss. While interspecies differences in antioxidant enzyme composition and activity were observed, insufficient evidence supported the orangutan's heightened susceptibility to oxidative stress. Conversely, orangutan sperm exhibited low tolerance to hypoosmotic conditions. To prevent cryodamage, a modified thawing protocol by implementing a serial dilution approach significantly minimized the hypoosmotic shock and improved post-thaw motility to 19%. In conclusion, this study presents the first complete proteome and lipidome analyses of chimpanzee and orangutan ejaculates, providing valuable insights into the physiological changes and defense mechanisms associated with sperm cryopreservation. This knowledge enabled a science-based approach to improving cryopreservation protocols, moving away from trial-and-error methods.
Project description:Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) are an endangered non-human primate species. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offer a promising avenue for preserving genetic resources and studying evolutionary processes. In this study, we successfully generate Bornean orangutan iPSCs (o-iPSCs) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using Sendai virus-mediated reprogramming. Furthermore, we transform primed o-iPSCs into a naïve pluripotent state using a novel 4i/L/A culture system. The resulting naïve o-iPSCs exhibit key features similar to human naïve stem cells, including upregulation of KLF17, DNMT3L, and DPPA3/5. We also observe significant activation of the WNT signaling pathway and X chromosome reactivation in the 4i/L/A o-iPSCs. Transcriptome analysis confirmed their resemblance to human naïve embryonic stem cells. Our findings contribute to the molecular understanding of naïve o-iPSCs and provide a foundation for orangutan conservation using advanced technologies.