Bos taurus and Cervus elaphus as Non-Seasonal/Seasonal Models for the Role of Melatonin Receptors in the Spermatozoon

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

卷:23

Adriana Casao¹  Cristina Soriano-Úbeda²  Felipe Martínez-Pastor²  José Ramiro González-Montaña²  Estela Fernández-Alegre²  Estíbaliz Lacalle²  Juan Carlos Domínguez² 

[1] Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences of Aragón, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain;

[2] Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), University of León, 24071 Leon, Spain;

关键词: melatonin;    membrane receptor;    GPCR;    agonist;    antagonist;    spermatozoon;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms23116284

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Melatonin is crucial in reproduction due its antioxidant, hormonal, and paracrine action. Melatonin membrane receptors (MT₁/MT₂) have been confirmed on spermatozoa from several species, but functionality studies are scarce. To clarify their role in ruminants as reproductive models, bull (Bos taurus, non-seasonal) and red deer (Cervus elaphus, highly seasonal) spermatozoa were analyzed after 4 h of incubation (38 °C, capacitating media) in 10 nM melatonin, MT₁/MT₂ agonists (phenylmelatonin and 8M-PDOT), and antagonists (luzindole and 4P-PDOT). Motility and functionality (flow cytometry: viability, intracellular calcium, capacitation status, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and acrosomal and mitochondrial status) were assessed. In bull, MT₁ was related to sperm viability preservation, whereas MT₂ could modulate cell functionality to prevent excess ROS produced by the mitochondria; this action could have a role in modulating sperm capacitation. Deer spermatozoa showed resistance to melatonin and receptor activation, possibly because the samples were of epididymal origin and collected at the breeding season’s peak, with high circulating melatonin. However, receptors could be involved in mitochondrial protection. Therefore, melatonin receptors are functional in the spermatozoa from bull and deer, with different activities. These species offer models differing from traditional laboratory experimental animals on the role of melatonin in sperm biology.

【 授权许可】

Unknown