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The cholesterol transporter ABCA1 is expressed in stallion spermatozoa and reproductive tract tissues.
Merkl, M; Ertl, R; Handschuh, S; Aurich, C; Schäfer-Somi, S.
Afiliación
  • Merkl M; Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Andrology, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Ertl R; Vetcore Facility for Research, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Handschuh S; Vetcore Facility for Research, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Aurich C; Platform for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Schäfer-Somi S; Platform for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: sabine.schaefer@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Theriogenology ; 85(6): 1080-9, 2016 Apr 01.
Article en En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26711702
In the present study, we assessed the presence of the ATP-binding-cassette (ABC) transporter molecules ABCA1 in spermatozoa of adult stallions and in testicular and epididymal tissue of prepubertal and adult stallions. For this purpose, semen samples from six fertile Shetland pony stallions aged 4 to 19 years were collected. Semen was collected from each stallion on three consecutive days. Ejaculates were analyzed immediately after collection, and only ejaculates meeting minimal requirements for fertile stallions were further evaluated. ABCA1 immunosignal was localized after staining of semen smears with different antibodies and counterstaining with Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-peanut agglutinin (PNA) and 4',6-Diamidin-2-phenylindol (DAPI). In a total of three samples, capacitation and acrosome reaction were induced by means of capacitation medium and progesterone substitution, respectively. Testicular and epididymal tissues were obtained from five prepubertal stallions aged 8 to 12 months and five adult stallions aged 4 to 9 years. For quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR), testicular and epididymal tissue of another seven adult (aged 1.5-14.5 years) and five prepupertal stallions (6-8 months) was used. For immunohistochemistry, sections from the caput, corpus, and cauda of the testes and epididymes were stained with the same specific antibodies as for immunocytochemistry. In stallion spermatozoa, strong immunosignal for ABCA1 was detected in the acrosomal area, the equatorial zone, and the principle piece of the flagellum but not in the caudal part of the head and the midpiece. In damaged or acrosome-reacted spermatozoa the FITC-PNA signal vanished together with the ABCA1 signal in most spermatozoa. In testicular tissue, strong immunostaining for ABCA1 was mainly visible in the heads and flagella of round spermatids and weaker signals in late spermatids and released spermatozoa. No staining was assessed in the Sertoli cells and spermatogonia of adult stallions, whereas strong signals in Leydig cells were present in prepubertal stallions. In prepubertal stallions, the ABCA1 messenger RNA level in testicular tissue was significantly higher than in adult stallions. We conclude that the ABCA1 transport molecule is present in adult and prepubertal stallion spermatozoa as well as testicular and epididymal tissue. ABCA1 is supposed to contribute to cholesterol transport and to support capacitation; however, this remains to be proven by functional studies. Species-specific differences concerning the localization inside the spermatozoa membrane are alike.
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Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Espermatozoides / Transportador 1 de Casete de Unión a ATP / Caballos Límite: Animals Idioma: En Revista: Theriogenology Año: 2016 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Austria Pais de publicación: Estados Unidos

Texto completo: 1 Colección: 01-internacional Base de datos: MEDLINE Asunto principal: Espermatozoides / Transportador 1 de Casete de Unión a ATP / Caballos Límite: Animals Idioma: En Revista: Theriogenology Año: 2016 Tipo del documento: Article País de afiliación: Austria Pais de publicación: Estados Unidos