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Key factors enhancing sperm fertilizing ability are transferred from the epididymis to the spermatozoa via epididymosomes in the domestic cat model

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Spermatozoa undergo critical changes in structure and function during the epididymal transit. Our previous studies in the domestic cat demonstrated that incidence of cenexin—a key protein involved in the centrosomal maturation—progressively increases in sperm cells from caput to cauda epididymidis. The objectives of the study were to (1) characterize mechanisms involved in transferring key factors—using the cenexin as a marker—between the epididymis and maturing sperm cells and (2) demonstrate the impact of such mechanisms on the acquisition of functional properties by spermatozoa.

Methods

Epididymides were dissected from adult cat testes to assess the presence and localization of cenexin in testicular tissues and each epididymal segment (caput, corpus, and cauda) via immunofluorescence, Western blot, and mass spectrometry.

Results

Results showed that tissues, luminal fluid, and isolated epididymosomes from each segment contained cenexin. Co-incubation of immature sperm cells for 3 h with luminal fluid or epididymosomes followed by immunostaining revealed that percentages of sperm cells containing cenexin significantly increased in samples co-incubated with epididymosome suspensions. Additionally, epididymosome co-incubation with immature spermatozoa resulted in sustained motility compared to untreated spermatozoa while there was no significant effect on acrosome integrity.

Conclusions

Taken together, these results suggest that epididymosomes play a critical role in epididymal sperm maturation and could be ideal vehicles to assist in the enhancement or suppression of male fertility.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Brent Whitaker of Animal Rescue Inc. and Dr. Keiko Antoku at Waldorf Well Pet Clinic, as well as all their staff, for their services and donation of domestic cat testes. We would also like to thank Sarah Jacobs for her assistance with this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, 20008, USA

    Tricia Rowlison & Pierre Comizzoli

  2. Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA

    Tricia Rowlison & Mary Ann Ottinger

  3. Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Mary Ann Ottinger

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  1. Tricia Rowlison
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  2. Mary Ann Ottinger
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  3. Pierre Comizzoli
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Correspondence to Pierre Comizzoli.

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Rowlison, T., Ottinger, M.A. & Comizzoli, P. Key factors enhancing sperm fertilizing ability are transferred from the epididymis to the spermatozoa via epididymosomes in the domestic cat model. J Assist Reprod Genet 35, 221–228 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-1083-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-017-1083-3

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