RESUMEN

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o transporte espermático na égua. Um rápido transporte espermático ocorre logo após a inseminação artificial (IA), sendo que a presença de espermatozoides na ponta dos cornos uterinos é observada oito minutos após esta. Espermatozoides podem ser observados 30 minutos após a IA e permanecer nas tubas uterinas por pelo menos 24 horas. Verificou-se que os espermatozoides podem ser observados em 62,6% das éguas quando se usa microscopia de luz, tanto nas glândulas uterinas como no epitélio do útero. Glândulas uterinas podem atuar como um reservatório de espermatozoides. O número de éguas com espermatozoides no epitélio uterino, nas glândulas e na junção útero-tubárica diminui em relação ao tempo após a IA.

The objective of this study was to review the literature on sperm transport in the mare. A rapid sperm transport occurs soon after artificial insemination (AI), and the presence of sperm on the tip of the uterine horns is observed after eight minutes. Sperm can be observed 30 minutes after AI and remain in the uterine tubes for at least 24 hours. It was found that the sperm can be observed in 62.6% of the mares when using light microscopy, both in the uterine glands and the epithelium of the uterus. Uterine glands may act as a reservoir for sperm. The number of mares with spermatozoa in the uterine epithelium, glands, and utero-tubal junction decreases over time after AI.

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RESUMEN

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o transporte espermático na égua. Um rápido transporte espermático ocorre logo após a inseminação artificial (IA), sendo que a presença de espermatozoides na ponta dos cornos uterinos é observada oito minutos após esta. Espermatozoides podem ser observados 30 minutos após a IA e permanecer nas tubas uterinas por pelo menos 24 horas. Verificou-se que os espermatozoides podem ser observados em 62,6% das éguas quando se usa microscopia de luz, tanto nas glândulas uterinas como no epitélio do útero. Glândulas uterinas podem atuar como um reservatório de espermatozoides. O número de éguas com espermatozoides no epitélio uterino, nas glândulas e na junção útero-tubárica diminui em relação ao tempo após a IA.(AU)

The objective of this study was to review the literature on sperm transport in the mare. A rapid sperm transport occurs soon after artificial insemination (AI), and the presence of sperm on the tip of the uterine horns is observed after eight minutes. Sperm can be observed 30 minutes after AI and remain in the uterine tubes for at least 24 hours. It was found that the sperm can be observed in 62.6% of the mares when using light microscopy, both in the uterine glands and the epithelium of the uterus. Uterine glands may act as a reservoir for sperm. The number of mares with spermatozoa in the uterine epithelium, glands, and utero-tubal junction decreases over time after AI.(AU)

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The proteome of cauda epididymal fluid (CEF) from Holstein bulls was defined. Fluid was collected from the vas deferens, subjected to 2-D SDS-PAGE and spots identified by CapLC-MS/MS and MALDI-ToF/ToF. Because albumin accounted for 21.1% of all spot intensities in the gels examined by PDQuest, samples were subjected to albumin depletion and then analyzed again as before. Original CEF gels had 114 ± 3 spots, including as the most abundant: albumin, epididymal secretory protein E1, prostaglandin d-synthase and gelsolin. Epididymal fluid also expressed: clusterin, transferrin, N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase, cauxin, glutathione peroxidase, acidic seminal fluid protein (aSFP), aldehyde reductase, α-l-fucosidase, α-1-ß-glycoprotein, apolipoprotein A-1, ß actin, calmodulin, cathepsin D, cystatin E/M, enolase, galectin 3-binding protein, leucine amino-peptidase and nucleobindin. Albumin depletion decreased that very spot to 10% of its original intensity and the resulting gels had, on average, 137 ± 4 spots. Spots identified as dipeptidyl-peptidase 7, angiotensin-converting enzyme, arylsulfatase A, aspartylglucosaminidase, serine protease inhibitors, new isoforms of calmodulin, cystatin E/M and a 17-kDa nucleobindin appeared only in depleted maps. This study is the first to report nucleobindin and aSFP as epididymal components. We suggest that CEF proteins act to facilitate membrane remodeling, transport of lipophilic substances, protect sperm and prevent premature acrosome reaction.

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Our objective was to determine whether the concentration of cooled sperm inseminated influenced sperm transport and intensity of the uterine inflammatory reaction 2, 4 and 24h after insemination. Experimental subjects were 189 estrous mares with a dominant follicle > or =35 mm in diameter and no bacterial growth or neutrophils detected in uterine smears. Each mare was randomly assigned to receive one of the following intrauterine treatments (volume, 20 mL): insemination with 5x10(6) mL(-1) or 25x10(6) mL(-1) or 50x10(6) mL(-1) sperm diluted in 3 mL seminal plasma (SP) and 17 mL skim milk; seminal plasma or skim milk extender. Mares in a control group received no intrauterine treatment. Mares were slaughtered 2, 4 or 24h after insemination or infusion. Oviducts were separated from the uterus, and uterus and oviducts were then flushed with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). After flushing, an endometrial sample was collected for further histopathological examination. The grade of uterine fibrosis and the amount of neutrophils in the stratum compactum were evaluated. A sample of each tubal flushing was examined for sperm count, and a sample of each uterine flushing was examined for PMN count. It was concluded that compounds in the insemination dose provoked a uterine inflammatory response, which was more rapid and intense as sperm concentration increased. In contrast, sperm transport through 4h after insemination was not influenced by sperm concentration.

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Mammalian fertilization is a highly regulated process, much of which are not clearly understood. Here we present some information in order to elaborate a working hypothesis for this process, beginning with the sperm modifications in the epidydimis up to sperm and egg plasmalemma interaction and fusion. We also discuss the still poorly understood capacitation process, the phenomenon of sperm chemo-attraction that brings the capacitated sperm to interact with the oocyte vestments and certain aspects of the acrosome reaction.

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BACKGROUND: alpha-glucosidase is found in human seminal plasma as an acid form, located in accessory glands, and as a neutral form secreted almost exclusively by the epididymis. Quantification of alpha-glucosidase activity is a marker of the secretory function of the epididymis and indemnity of the sperm transport pathway. AIM: To obtain reference values for alpha-glucosidase in normal samples of seminal plasma, to evaluate its behavior in serial samples and to determine the effect of proteolytic enzymes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty donors, with normal semen analysis according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, were evaluated. For the study with alpha-quimotrypsin, 0.1 to 10 mg/ml of the enzyme was added to the seminal plasma from a group of donors. alpha-glucosidase was also measured in semen obtained from nine patients at different time intervals. RESULTS: Normal alpha-glucosidase values ranged from 14.52 to 25.69 microU/ml. Concentrations up to 10 mg/ml of alpha-quimotrypsin (10 times of that usually used in the liquefaction of the semen) did not alter the quantification of alpha-glucosidase. Serial determinations revealed oscillations in their magnitude, which stayed in each patient's characteristic range. However a subgroup presented a marked reduction of the activity of alpha-glucosidase as the abstinence diminished (40%). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma gives reliable information of the secretor state of the epididymis and especially replaces invasive methods used to evaluate the indemnity of the spermatic transport from the epididymis to the anterior urethra.

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Retrograde ejaculation severely compromises male fertility. The use of sympathicomimetics for the treatment of this condition has poor results, except in patients with partial retrograde ejaculation, whose semen has a higher spermatozoa concentration. The semen of two patients with partial retrograde ejaculation was collected and frozen after the injection of a sympathicomimetic (Midodrine). The frozen/thawed samples were mixed with fresh semen recently ejaculated to obtain a minimal number of motile spermatozoa, and used for intrauterine insemination (> de 1 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa/ml). In both cases, pregnancies that developed satisfactorily, were obtained.

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La vía espermática extratesticular de la paloma está formada por los conductores eferentes proximales y distales, y Por el conducto epididimario. Los conductos eferentes están revestidos por epitelio pseudo-estratificado, estereocilado y el conducto Epididimario por epitelio columnar bajo, pseudo-estratificado. El análisis morfométrico demostró que los conductores eferentes proximales Poseen mayor diámetro medio entre los túbulos de la región epididimaria (X: 283,64 um); teniendo este hecho una probable implicancia Fisiológica en el proceso de reabsorción del fluido seminífero

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Guanethidine, a chemical that selectively abolishes peripheral noradrenergic nerves, was used to investigate the role of sympathetic innervation in the maintenance of epididymal sperm quantity and quality. Four groups of 10 adult male rats each were treated daily for 21 days, by i.p. injections, with either 0 (saline vehicle), 6.25, 12.5, or 25 mg/kg guanethidine. Norepinephrine content was reduced to undetectable levels in the cauda epididymidis in all guanethidine groups after 3 wk of treatment and was reduced to 7.4% of the control values after 1 wk of 6.25 mg/kg treatment. While body weight gain was significantly decreased at 12.5 and 25 mg/kg compared to that in controls, there was a significant increase in the weights of the seminal vesicles/coagulating glands in all treated groups. The number of homogenization-resistant spermatids per testis and the daily sperm production per testis remained unchanged. The weight of the epididymis was significantly increased at 6.25 and 12.5 mg/kg. Moreover, the number of cauda epididymal sperm and the transit time were increased significantly at 6.25 mg/kg (10.2 days) compared to values in the control cauda (6.3 days). Neither serum testosterone levels nor LH was affected in a dosage-related manner. There were no effects of guanethidine treatment on cauda epididymal sperm motility or morphology. A quantitative analysis of detergent-extracted cauda epididymal sperm proteins by SDS-PAGE revealed no differences, but there were diminutions in seven proteins in homogenates of caput/corpus tissue. Histologic analysis of testis and epididymis sections revealed no differences between control and denervated animals. In a subsequent experiment the lowest effective dosage (6.25 mg/kg) was given to rats for 1 wk, and an increased number of cauda epididymal sperm and a delay in sperm transit were observed. Our results indicate that low-dosage guanethidine exposure denervates the epididymis within 1 wk, thereby delaying epididymal transit; however, neither 1- nor 3-wk exposure produces qualitative changes in the sperm.

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Chromatin packing, mostly due to disulfide bond formation, is one important step in epididymal sperm maturation. In this study the in vitro effect of a reducing agent such as thioglycolate (Tg) was tested. Thioglycolate was assayed on rat sperm obtained from caput, corpus and cauda epididymides. Changes were verified via light microscopy (and area measurements) and both transmission and scanning electron microscopy using standard techniques. Due to the low molecular weight of Tg, it does not require detergent to enter sperm. The nuclear decondensation elicited by Tg and its effect on sperm surface, differ from caput to cauda, although the final nuclear area is not significantly different. The pattern of sperm nuclear decondensation suggests that it starts at the caudal segment of the head, perhaps due to the abundance of nuclear pores in this region. Under the experimental conditions described below the perforatorium was not affected. Thus, the nature and role in the rat sperm of the perforatorium deserves more detailed analysis.

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Apresenta-se uma revisäo sobre transporte de gametas.

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