Melatonin Affects Red Deer Spermatozoa Motility and Physiology in Capacitating and Non-capacitating Conditions

Overview

Journal Reprod Domest Anim

Specialties Biology
Reproductive Medicine
Veterinary Medicine

Date 2022 Apr 30

PMID 35488500

Authors

Estela Fernandez-Alegre

Estibaliz Lacalle

Cristina Soriano-Ubeda

Juan Carlos Dominguez

Adriana Casao

Felipe Martinez-Pastor

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Melatonin affects sperm physiology, possibly through membrane receptors. Effects were tested at low concentrations (1 pM, 100 pM, 10 nM and 1 µM) in red deer epididymal spermatozoa as a model for high-seasonality species. Samples were incubated with melatonin as uncapacitated or capacitating conditions (heparin) and evaluated for motility and physiology (flow cytometry). Most effects occurred at low concentrations (nM-pM), mainly protecting from apoptosis and maintaining acrosomal integrity, suggesting a role for membrane receptors rather than a direct antioxidant effect. Intracellular calcium was not affected, differing from other studies and perhaps because of the epididymal origin. This study supports the relevance of melatonin on sperm physiology and could contribute to the application of reproductive technologies in wild ruminants.

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Melatonin affects red deer spermatozoa motility and physiology in capacitating and non-capacitating conditions.

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