• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2010

This study was to evaluate the protein profile of seminal plasma using 2-DE in Hanwoo. Seminal plasma was harvested from five mature Hanwoo, and seminal plasma protein was extracted by M-PER Mammalian Protein Extraction Reagent. Proteins were refined by clean-up kit and quantified by Bradford method until total protein was $300\;{\mu}l$. Immobilized pH gradient (IPG) strip was used 18 cm and 3~11 NL. SDS-PAGE was used 12% acrylamide gel. Each gels were visualized by comassie brilliant blue and silver staining. These spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS and searched on NCBInr. The result, 20 proteins of 36 protein spots were searched through peptide sequencing on the NCBInr. 8 proteins profiled by 2-DE were proved through previous bovine studies and the name of each protein was albumin, nucleobindin, clusterin, TIMP-2, spermadhesin Z13, spermadhesin-1 and BSP proteins (BSP 30 kDa and BSP A1/A2). 12 new proteins were ATP synthase, protein MAK16 homolog, Transmembrane protein 214, E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase BRE1A, dual serine/threonine and tyrosine protein kinase, tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2, alpha-actinin-4, RUN domain-containing protein 3B, catenin alpha-1, protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase 2, plakophilin-1 and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H1 has not been previously described in the bovine seminal plasma study. These proteins may be contribute to define the type of proteins affecting fertility of male and improve the fertilizing ability of semen in Hanwoo.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2012

After spermatogenesis, spermatozoa come in contact with fluids in the epididymis where they mature. During ejaculation, spermatozoa are mixed with secretions from prostate gland, vesicular glands, and bulbourethral glands. During natural mating, seminal plasma is deposited in the female reproductive tract eliciting various physiological and immunological responses. With the advances in proteomics, the components of seminal plasma have been identified and the information may be valuable in identifying markers for fertility. Components of seminal plasma that affect fertility have been discovered and the mechanism of action of these factors has been determined. The objective of this study was to determine the specific seminal plasma proteins from Korean native cattle, Hanwoo, and Korean native brindle cattle (KNBC) with the long term goal of improving fertilization rate. After SDS-PAGE and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis, proteins were identified by Q-ToF analysis. They include plasma serine protease inhibitor precursor and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase after SDS-PAGE. Number and density of the spots in 2-dimensional gels were higher in KNBC than Hanwoo. Proteins identified from the paired spots of both breeds include chain A, bull seminal plasma PDC-109 Fibronectin Type II module, BSP-30 kDa precursor, and Spermadhesin Z13 or its precursor. Interestingly, some proteins were identified from multiple spots. The functional differences of these diverse forms of the proteins may require further studies. With their previously reported roles in sperm capacitation by these proteins, the studies on the mechanism of action, ligand interaction and the variation in the genome may help improving fertility in cattle.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-24
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• 1983

On the basis of the semen analysis in 66 subjects, they were divided into six different groups: Group I consisted of 16 normal subjects with sperm counts of over 40 ${\times}10^6$/ml and motility of over 40 percent, Group II, 7 subjects with normal sperm counts, but motility of under 40 percent, Group III, 15 oligospermic patients with under 40 ${\times}10^6$/ml, Group IV 14 azoospermic patients, Group V, 10 patients with vasectomy and Group VI, 4 abnormal patients with 2 cases of hypoplastic testis, 1 case of Klinefelter's syndrome and 1 case of testis tumor. After seperation of semen into sperm and seminal plasma by centrifugation, the protein contents and the activities of hyaluronidase, ${\beta}$-N acetylglucosaminidase, ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, arylsulfatase, acrosin and azocoll proteinase in seminal plasma were measured. Vasectomy group has 30 percent less of total protein than normal group. For the comparison of enzyme activities of seminal plasma, it could be assumed that the enzymes in seminal plasma were not contaminated with the enzymes of spermatozoa by testing the enzymes of the seminal plasma from the vasectomy and azoospermic groups. It had been reported that hyaluronidase was only released from spermatozoa, however, the result obtained in this investigation showed that azoospermic and vasectomy group had high specific activities of hyaluronidase. The results indicated that hyaluronidase was not only from the testis but also from the male accessory sexual glands. Oligospermic group (Group III) showed the lowest total activity of hyaluronidase among them. The specific activities of ${\beta}$ -N-acetylglucosaminidase was high in oligospermic group (Group III) and low in vasectomy group (Group V). These results were contradictory with the pattern of hyaluronidase activities. This indicated that the spermatozoa which were stayed in epididymis would increase the activity of this enzyme. The specific activity of ${\beta}$ - glucuronidase was low in oligospermic and vasectomy groups. Group VI including testis tumor had remarkably high arylsulfatase activity. Arylsulfatase, a typical lysosomal enzyme, has been known to be released unusually large amounts from certain tumor cells. Arylsulfatase was also released with high activities from azoospermic and vascetomy group. This result indicated that this enzyme was also released from the sources other than testis. Acrosin, a proteolytic enzyme locating in the sperm acrosome, was not found throughout all the samples of seminal plasma. The activities of azocoll proteinase, a non-specific neutral proteinase was nearly identical in all the groups. This enzyme must have been released from the sources other than testis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1678-1682
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• 2001

The total proteins were estimated in both deoxycholate (DOC)-extract of sperm membrane and seminal plasma of chilled as well as frozen semen obtained from five Murrah buffalo bulls. Proteins were further characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in three bulls. The protein content of sperm membrane extract (SME) and that of seminal plasma (SP) decreased gradually with increase in freezing period from 6 to 24 mo when compared with the values observed in freshly chilled semen in all bulls. The total decrease in protein content of SME and SP varied from 30-40% and 28-59% respectively during 6-24 mo of freezing. The number of glycoproteins/proteins (GP/P) in SME varied from 4-8 in freshly-chilled semen of all bulls and reduced to 2-4 after 24 mo of freezing. In SP, the number of proteins varied from 6-10 in freshly chilled semen of all bulls and reduced to 3-8 after 24 mo of freezing. Some of the proteins in SME and SP disappeared, others got altered and appeared with change in molecular weight after different freezing times. These studies reveal that alterations in the sperm membrane proteins may be responsible for damage to their membrane during freezing and thus lowering their fertilizability.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.39-42
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• 1974

Despite a considerable amount of investigation there continues to be disagreement concerning the proteins present in human seminal plasma. Recently their identification has assumed a greater importance following evidence that infertility in men and women may have an immunological cause (Katsh, 1959; Quinlivan, 1969). Seminal plasma is composed of fluids secreted by the prostate, seminal vesicles, ampullae, ducti deferentes, bulbourethral (Cowper's) glands, urethral(Littre's) glands and the epididymes. Prostatic juice, one of the major components of seminal plasma, has an important role in secretion of acid phosphatase and prostaglandin. A few studies have been reported of human prostatic juice, since, in human subjects, there were some problems in studying prostatic juice due to quite small amount of secretion and possibility of contamination with fluids from the seminal vesicles and ejaculatory ducts. The purpose of the present study was to determine the basic components of proteins in human prostatic juice. Prostatic juice was obtained from normal healthy man of $20{\sim}30\;year-old$ by massage of the prostate, and protein components were separated by means of disc electrophoresis. The results are summarized as follows; 1) Total numbers of protein fractions of normal human serum and prostatic juice are $14{\sim}18$ bands and $9{\sim}12$ bands, respectively. Prostatic juice produces two deeply staining bands which appear similar to those formed by $beta-_1$ globulin and albumin. 2) $Alpha-_1$ globulin area in the fractions of prostatic juice shows 4 bands and one more band is found than that of serum. On the other hand, the fractions of immunoglobulin and $alpha-_2$ globulin areas are eight in serum and it has three bands more than that of prostatic juice. 3) $Alpha-_1$ globulin area in the prostatic juice is more deeply stained than that of serum. In contrast with $alpha-_1$ globulin area, immunoglobulin and $alpha-_2$ globulin areas in the prostatic juice show weaker staining than serum.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.353-358
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• 1998

Experiments were performed to find out the physico-chemical properties of milt, and morphological changes of cryopreserved spermatozoa in tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes. The average number of sperm and spermatocrit in milt stripped were $9.81{\pm}0.34{\times}10^{10}/m{\ell}$ and $97.8{\pm}0.8$, respectively. While total lipid concentration from seminal fluid was higher than that from sperm, total protein concentration from sperm was higher than that from seminal fluid, Na and K concentrations in sperm and those in seminal fluid were similar each other, However, glucose from sperm and seminal fluid were not detectable. Spermatozoon of tiger puffer was consisted of head, middle Piece and tail. Size of head showing horseshoe shape was $0.65{\pm}0.10{\mu}m$ in diameter and $1.35{\pm}0.30{\mu}m$ in length. The head fully containing chromatin did not have acrosome. Mitochondrion in middle piece was $0.2{\mu}m$ in average diameter and flagellum showed 9+2 structure. A few of cryopreserved spermatozoa showed morphologically loose or swollen plasma membranes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1247-1255
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• 2016

Heparin binding proteins (HBPs) are produced by accessory glands. These are secreted into the seminal fluid, bind to the spermatozoa at the time of ejaculation, favour capacitation, acrosome reaction, and alter the immune system response toward the sperm. The present study was conducted with an objective to assess the effect of purified seminal plasma-HBPs (SP-HBPs) on cross bred cattle bull sperm attributes during two phases of cryopreservation: Pre freezing and freezing-thawing. SP-HBPs were purified from pooled seminal plasma by heparin affinity chromatography. Three doses of SP-HBPs i.e. 10, 20, $40{\mu}g/mLs$ semen were standardized to find out the optimum dose and $20{\mu}g/mLs$ was found to be an optimum dose. Semen as such and treated with SP-HBPs was diluted with sodium citrate-egg yolk diluter and cryopreserved as per the standard protocol. Sperm parameters i.e. motility, viability, Hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), acrosome damage, in vitro capacitation and lipid peroxidation were evaluated in SP-HBP treated and untreated (control) semen at both phases of cryopreservation. A considerable variation in percent sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity (HOST), acrosome damage, acrosome reaction and lipid peroxidation was observed at both phases among the bulls irrespective of the treatment. Incubation of neat semen with $20{\mu}g/mL$ SP-HBP before processing for cryopreservation enhanced the average motility, viability, membrane integrity by 7.2%, 1.5%, 7.9%, and 5.6%, 6.6%, 7.4% in pre-frozen and frozen-thawed semen in comparison to control. There was also an average increase of 4.1%/3.9% in in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction in SP-HBPs-treated frozen-thawed semen as compared to control. However, binding of SP-HBPs to the sperm declined acrosome damage and lipid peroxidation by 1.3%/4.1% and 22.1/$32.7{\mu}M$/$10^9$ spermatozoa in SP-HBP treated pre-frozen/frozen-thawed semen as compared to control, respectively. Significant (p<0.05) effects were observed only in motility, HOST and in vitro acrosome reaction. It can be concluded that treatment of neat semen with SP-HBPs before cryopreservation minimized the cryoinjury by decreasing the generation of reactive oxygen species.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.267-271
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• 2008

We experimentally determined the physico-chemical properties of seminal plasma as well as the sperm cryopreservation techniques of masou salmon, Oncorhynchus masou masou. Seminal plasma contained $18{\pm}1mmol/L$ potassium, $144{\pm}4mmol/L$ sodium, $116{\pm}3mmol/L$ chloride, $83.2{\pm}3.1mg/L$ calcium, $14.8{\pm}0.7mg/L$ magnesium, $45{\pm}9mg/L$ glucose, and $1.0{\pm}0.0g/L$ total protein. The osmolality and pH of seminal plasma were $287{\pm}7\;and\;7.7{\pm}0.1mmol/kg$, respectively, and the spermatocrit was $28{\pm}2$. The rate of embryonic survival at the eyed-stage and the hatching rate were highest in 10% methanol with 300 mM glucose. Compared to DMSO or glycerol, methanol served as a better cryoprotectant of masou salmon sperm.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2007

The milt properties of filefish(Thamnaconus modestus) included physical properties of sperm and biochemical properties of seminal plasma. The physical properties of milt were $0.3{\pm}0.1\;mL{\cdot}fish^{-1}$ in sperm volume, $2.6{\pm}0.1{\times}10^7\;spermatozoa{\cdotg}mL^{-1}$ in sperm concentration and $73.3{\pm}6.7$ in spermatocrit. The biochemical properties of seminal plasma contained $9.8{\pm}0.9\;mmol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ potassium, $164.0{\pm}4.0\;mmol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ sodium, $151.0{\pm}1.2\;mmol{\cdot}L^{-1}$ chloride, $14.9{\pm}0.6\;mg{\cdot}dL^{-1}$ calcium, $7.2{\pm}0.1\;mg{\cdot}dL^{-1}$ magnesium, $1.0\;mg{\cdot}dL^{-1}$ glucose, $0.1\;g{\cdot}dL^{-1}$ total protein and $1.0\;mg{\cdot}dL^{-1}$ total lipid. The osmolality and pH of seminal plasma were $322.8{\pm}2.8\;mOsmol{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ and $7.7{\pm}0.1$, respectively. The spermatozoon of filefish consisted of three parts: head without acrosome, mid-piece with five mitochondria and flagellum with "9+2" pattern. The head of spermatozoon in longitudinal section was horseshoe-shaped, and $1.3{\sim}1.6\;{\mu}m$ long and $1.0{\sim}1.3\;{\mu}m$ wide.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 1983

${\beta}$-Glucuronidase from bull seminal plasma was partially purified by $(NH_4)_2SO_4$fractionation, two successive DEAE-cellulose columns, isoelectric focusing (pH 4 to 6) and Gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. Only one form of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase was obtained by isoelectric focusing at pH 5.13. Highly purified ${\beta}$-glucuronidase had specific activity of 34 units/mg protein and showed one major and some minor contaminants by disc gelk electrophoresis. The enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 5.2 and at $48^{\circ}C$. The enzyme was completely inhibited by 1,4 saccharo-${\alpha}$-lactone (5 mM). Albumin and 0.15 M NaCl increased the ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity. Km of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase using phenolphthalein mono-${\beta}$-glucuronic acid as substrate was 2.9 mM and Vmax was $0.8{\mu}$mole/min. The enzyme appeared to be a glycoprotein by its binding to concanvalin·A. Rabbit and human sperm-acrosomal extracts and seminal plasma showed high ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity.