Semen Quality and Chromatin Condensation in Domestic Cat Sperm During Passage Through the Epididymis

Authors

  • Arunee Wongpiyasatid Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
  • Yindee Kitiyanant Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
  • Lawrence M. Lewin Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel.
  • Kulnasan Saikhun Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Keywords:

chromatin condensation, domestic cat, epididymis, sperm

Abstract

The objectives were to identify and quantify changes occurring in cat sperm as they pass through the epididymis, vas deferens and ejaculate. Cat epididymides obtained by orchidectomy were divided into six regions (1 to 6) and sperm cells were released by mincing each epididymal region. The
semen quality was assessed by light microscopy and the sperm chromatin condensation was measured by flow cytometry. The sperm motility was minimal in region 1 and increased significantly (p < 0.05) when the sperm passed from this region, with maximum motility reached in region 6, the vas deferens and ejaculate. Progressive motility and the percentage of sperm with normal morphology increased during epididymal transit. The most prevalent defects in abnormal spermatozoa were found in the tail. The mean degree of maturation (± standard error of the mean) of sperm chromatin condensation was 72.9 ± 9.4% in region 1 and was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in region 3 (94.4 ± 2.6%). Chromatin condensation or decondensation processes were studied further in cat epididymides (four portions: initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda) by incubating sperm with alkaline phosphatase (AP) or dithiothreitol (DTT), respectively, followed by staining with propidium iodide and analysis by flow cytometry. After
AP treatment, the fluorescence intensity approximated that found in the initial segment. The DTT treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased the fluorescence of the chromatin condensation in all parts, except the initial segment. Cat sperm chromatin was shown to undergo condensation during passage through the epididymis and the condensation process was reversed by reducing disulfide to sulfhydryl bonds or promoted by dephosphorylation. 

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Published

2011-02-28

How to Cite

Arunee Wongpiyasatid, Yindee Kitiyanant, Lawrence M. Lewin, and Kulnasan Saikhun. 2011. “Semen Quality and Chromatin Condensation in Domestic Cat Sperm During Passage Through the Epididymis”. Agriculture and Natural Resources 45 (1). Bangkok, Thailand:46-58. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/anres/article/view/245132.

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Section

Research Article