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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343307
Title: Season of collection and sperm head shape impacts expression of CARHSP and FTL from motile-rich boar sperm

Author
item Rempel, Lea
item KRAUTKRAMER, MEGAN - University Of Wisconsin
item LOETHER, T - University Of Wisconsin
item PARRISH, JOHN - University Of Wisconsin
item Miles, Jeremy

Submitted to: AGRI GENE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/13/2017
Publication Date: 3/1/2018
Citation: Rempel, L.A., Krautkramer, M.M., Loether, T.M., Parrish, J.J., Miles, J.R. 2018. Season of collection and sperm head shape impacts expression of CARHSP and FTL from motile-rich boar sperm. AGRI GENE. 7:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggene.2017.10.002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggene.2017.10.002

Interpretive Summary: During the summer months, pig semen quality decreases resulting in reduced fertilization. In an effort to understand the genetic contribution to semen quality, we measured the activity of several genes in sperm that have previously been associated with seasonal differences (summer versus winter). We also evaluated the activity of these genes based on changes between June and August in the sperm head shape. Two genes had altered activity, calcium-regulated heat-stable protein and ferritin, light polypeptide subunit, due to differences in temperature or sperm head shape change. Both genes play a role in protecting a cell from potentially harmful stress (e.g., inflammation and oxidation) that could lead to reduced sperm viability and possibly reduced fertility.

Technical Abstract: The objective of the current study was to evaluate transcript activity of motile-rich sperm collected from June (spring) or August (summer), stored as cooled-extended (ExT) or cryopreserved (FrZ), and selected for least or most sperm head shape change, using Fourier harmonic analysis techniques, between June and August. Even with the lack of an extended heat stress, motile-rich sperm transcripts were influenced by season and putatively by sperm head shape change. Transcripts that had previously been associated with seasonality of sperm collection and methylation pathway transcripts were evaluated among semen samples. Calcium-regulated heatstable protein 1-like transcript from motile-rich sperm tended (P= 0.0829) to be greater in samples collected in June in comparison to August samples. Ferritin light polypeptide transcript tended (P =0.0838) to be greater from motile-rich sperm with least head shape change from June collection in contrast to sperm collected in August. Both transcripts have a functional role in cytoprotection and may serve to improve boar semen activity and quality during thermal stress or seasonal changes.