Changes in aquaporins mRNA expression and liquid storage at 17°C : A potential biomarker of boar sperm quality?
Castany Quintana, Marina (Linköping University. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences)
Gardela Santacruz, Jaume (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Ruiz Conca, Mateo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
López Béjar, Manel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)
Martinez, Cristina A.. (Linköping University. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences)
Rodriguez-Martinez, Heriberto (Linköping University Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences)
Álvarez-Rodríguez, Manuel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals)

Date:	2022
Abstract:	Artificial insemination (AI) for pigs relies on liquid storage of extended semen at 17°C, which preserves sperm quality and ensures its fertilizing capacity. Routine quality controls include the evaluation of sperm motility, viability and capacitation status. The physiological functions of all these features depend on transmembrane aquaporins (AQPs), proteins playing key roles in osmoadaptation. In this study, we made a relative quantification, using RT-qPCR, of the mRNA of several sperm AQPs in AI-liquid semen doses before and after a 48-hr incubation period, aiming to determine possible quantitative compromising expression changes during the process that could serve as a diagnostic tool. Our results showed a decrease in classical sperm motility variables (total and progressive motility and velocity) and sperm viability after 48-hr storage, whereas capacitation status increased overtime. mRNA expression increased in the orthodox AQP4 and AQP6 after 48-hr incubation, relative to control (0 hr) and 24-hr time-points. Moreover, mRNA expression of aquaglyceroporins AQP3, AQP7 and AQP10 was higher after 48-hr incubation, confirmed by AQP7-protein validation using Western blot. Our results indicate that expression levels of AQPs-mRNA can change in ejaculated pig spermatozoa under conditions of ex-vivo incubation that could modify sperm homeostasis, suggesting it could eventually become a relevant molecular biomarker to assess the efficiency of liquid storage of pig semen.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2019-108320RJ-I00 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad IJCI-2015-24380
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	AI doses ; Boar sperm ; Liquid storage ; Transcripts
Published in:	Reproduction in Domestic Animals, (May 2022) , p. 1-4, ISSN 1439-0531

DOI: 10.1111/rda.14134
PMID: 35467055

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