La présente Thèse constitue une contribution à la connaissance de l’ultrastructure de la spermiogenèse et du spermatozoïde chez les Cestodes. Nous y présentons de nouvelles données spermatologiques ultrastructurales d’espèces appartenant à six ordres différents : Acanthobothrium crassicolle Wedl, 1855 (Tetraphyllidea), Aporhynchus menezesi Noever et al., 2010 (Trypanorhyncha), Barsonella lafoni de Chambrier et al., 2009 (Proteocephalidea), Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819) (Bothriocephalidea), Echinobothrium euterpes (Neifar et al., 2001) (Diphyllidea) et Molluscotaenia crassiscolex (von Linstow, 1890) (Cyclophyllidea). Les résultats obtenus sur la spermiogenèse et le spermatozoïde sont comparés avec ceux de Cestodes déjà étudiés, spécialement avec ceux appartenant aux ordres objet de notre étude. Enfin, nous discutons sur l’utilité des différents caractères spermatologiques ultrastructuraux en Taxonomie, Systématique et Phylogénie. L’étude spermatologique de Clestobothrium crassiceps constitue le premier travail fait sur le genre Clestobothrium et la onzième espèce de l’ordre Bothriocephalidea récemment créé. Les résultats obtenus sont comparés avec ceux des autres espèces de cet ordre, mais aussi avec ceux des Diphyllobothriidea, l’autre ordre créé à partir de l’ancien ordre des Pseudophyllidea. Concernant la spermiogenèse, les caractères les plus intéressants sont le type II de spermiogenèse et le corps intercentriolaire très réduit. On peut remarquer aussi le type II de spermatozoïde qui présente un anneau de microtubules corticaux, probablement une autapomorphie pour les Bothriocephalidea. L’étude ultrastructurale du Diphyllidea Echinobothrium euterpes montre la formation de deux flagelles de longueur différente. Dans les stades avancés de la spermiogenèse, après la fusion proximodistale, l’axonème court disparaît pour donner naissance à un spermatozoïde présentant un seul axonème. La spermiogenèse est du type I et le spermatozoïde correspond au type IV. Autres caractères intéressants chez les Diphyllidea sont la forte réduction ou absence de microtubules corticaux et la présence de masses denses associées aux centrioles dans la zone de différentiation. Ce dernier caractère peut être une synapomorphie pour les espèces de cet ordre. Aporhynchus menezesi présente un type I de spermiogenèse et un type I de spermatozoïde. Notre étude apporte les premières données chez la superfamille des Gymnorhynchoidea. Nous confirmons chez les Trypanorhyncha l’absence de corps en crête et la présence d’un arc de microtubules corticaux dans le spermatozoïde. L’étude de Acanthobothrium crassicolle est le troisième dans ce genre et confirme le type I de spermiogenèse et le type II de spermatozoïde. Ce type de spermatozoïde constitue la plus importante différence entre les onchobothriidés et les phyllobothriidés. Nous confirmons aussi la présence d’un arc de microtubules corticaux. Cependant, il est observé une hétérogénéité au niveau du corps intercentriolaire chez les Tetraphyllidea-Onchobothriidae. Barsonella lafoni est la septième espèce de l’ordre Proteocephalidea dont l’ultrastructure du spermatozoïde est analysée. Elle montre le patron I pour la spermiogenèse et aussi pour le spermatozoïde. Ces résultats sont concordants avec ceux des autres espèces étudiées, sauf Sandonella sandoni. Un corps intercentriolaire réduit et un arc de microtubules corticaux sont des caractères constamment présents chez les proteocephalidés étudiés. Chez B. lafoni nous avons décrit pour la première fois la présence d’un matériel dense aux électrons dans la zone de différentiation pendant les stades initiaux de la spermiogenèse. Il s’agit d’un caractère typique des ordres basaux des Eucestoda. Finalement, Molluscotaenia crassiscolex suit le type IV de spermiogenèse et son spermatozoïde est du type VI. Ces deux patrons coïncident chez les autres dilepididés étudiés. La morphologie particulière du corps en crête est le caractère le plus intéressant. Il est partiellement détaché dans sa partie moyenne. Nos résultats sont comparés avec les Dilepididae s.l. / The present Thesis constitutes a contribution to the knowledge of ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of cestodes. New spermatological data concerning species belonging to six orders of Eucestoda are presented. These species are Clestobothrium crassiceps (Rudolphi, 1819) (Bothriocephalidea), Echinobothrium euterpes (Neifar et al., 2001) (Diphyllidea), Aporhynchus menezesi Noever et al., 2010 (Trypanorhyncha), Acanthobothrium crassicolle Wedl, 1855 (Tetraphyllidea), Barsonella lafoni de Chambrier et al., 2009 (Proteocephalidea), and Molluscotaenia crassiscolex (von Linstow, 1890) (Cyclophyllidea). The obtained results on spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon are compared with the available data on the remaining eucestodes, particularly with the orders discussed in the present study. Moreover, the usefulness of different spermatological characters for Taxonomy, Systematics and Phylogeny is discussed.

El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido evaluar la relación entre los parámetros de la calidad seminal y la capacidad de penetración in vitro de ovocitos homólogos (PIVh) con los resultados in vivo de fertilidad y prolificidad.Se han analizado 60 eyaculados realizando sobre cada uno las medicionesclásicas del espermiograma (motilidad, calidad de movimiento, volumen, concentración espermática, estado del acrosoma, morfoanomalías y tinción vital), pruebas bioquímicas (contenido de ATP, calcio, sodio, potasio, magnesio y zinc), ensayos de la funcionalidad del espermatozoide ( test de endósmosis, test del diacetato de carboxifluoresceína, test ORT) y la valoración mediante un test de penetración in vitro homóloga. Los resultados de la valoración in vitro del semen fueron contrastados con los resultados obtenidos en un ensayo in vivo con inseminaciones homospérmicas.En nuestras condiciones experimentales el estudio de los parámetros demotilidad, morfología, acrosomas y de los test de funcionalidad de la membrana puedeser una herramienta útil, en un primer término, para desechar eyaculados de baja calidad, aunque estas técnicas no alcanzan la sensibilidad suficiente para dar un resultado satisfactorio en la predicción de la fertilidad. Sin embargo, los resultados obtenidos muestran que el test de penetración in vitro es la única técnica de las estudiadas capaz de discriminar adecuadamente los eyaculados que darán lugar a los distintos grupos de fertilidad. / The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between theparameters of seminal quality and homologous oocytes in vitro penetration capacityversus the reproductive parameters, fertility and litter size which were bothdetermined in a field trial.Sixty boar ejaculates have been analysed, performing on each of them:conventional semen analysis (motility, volume, sperm concentration, normal acrosome, morphology and structural integrity), biochemical parameters (ATP, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc), functional sperm assays (Hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST), Carboxiflorescin Diacetate Test (DCF), Osmotic Resistance Test (ORT)) and the homologous in vitro penetration test. The results observed upon a in vitro semen valoration were checked with those obtained upon a in vivo trial with homospermic insemination.In our experimental conditions the study of motility, morphology, normalacrosomes and functional test may be a good tool, in a first analysis, to get rid of poor seminal quality ejaculates. Still, this analysis is not accurate enough to bring outsatisfactory results to predict the in vivo fertilization capacity. In the light of theseresults only the homologous in vitro penetration test has been found able todiscriminate the different groups of fertility and litter size. None the less an extensive study is required.

La aplicación de procesos biotecnológicos como la separación de espermatozoides X e Y mediante citometría de flujo, pueden generar la eliminación de determinados componentes del plasma seminal necesarios para conservar su funcionalidad. En este sentido, se ha observado que la adición de plasma seminal al medio espermático, protege a los espermatozoides cuando estos son sometidos a separación espermática mediante citometría de flujo. Sin embargo, diversos estudios demuestran que rel efecto beneficioso que ejerce el plasma seminal sobre los espermatozoides reside en determinadas proteínas. En el caso de la especie porcina, hay estudios previos que determinan que el efecto protector que ejerce el plasma seminal sobre los espermatozoides, se debe a una proteína denominada heterodímero PSP-I/PSP-II. El efecto beneficioso de dicha proteína sobre la funcionalidad espermática en espermatozoides de verraco altamente diluidos parece estar conservada, en su subunidad PSP-II y, concretamente, en la fracción peptídica de ésta. Estudiar, además, su localización a lo largo del tracto genital del verraco así como en las distintas fracciones del eyaculado, puede ser importante para llegar a conocer si la presencia de este heterodímero en el medio de recogida espermático de espermatozoides X e Y, es beneficioso tanto en la funcionalidad como en la capacidad fecundante de estos espermatozoides. / Biotechnological procedures of semen, such as sexing using flow cytometry/cell sorting procedures, causes high dilutions during sperm manipulation, linked with the wash away or high dilution of seminal plasma components. Thus, to develop strategies to extend the viability of treated spermatozoa are necessary. It is well known that add seminal plasma (SP) to the sperm media contributes to preserving the integrity and the fertilizing potential of sperm. Nevertheless, the beneficial effects of seminal plasma seem to be restricted to specific proteins of the SP. In porcine, previous studies have related this protective effect of the seminal plasma on the sperm cells to a protein called PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer. The beneficial effect of this protein on the functionality of highly diluted boar spermatozoa is largely preserved in its PSP-II subunit and does not appear to require its glycan moiety. Moreover, study its localization along male reproductive tract and in different portions of the ejaculate could be important to know if the presence of PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer in the collection medium for sex sorted spermatozoa is beneficial on the in vitro function and in vivo fertilizing ability.

Fertilization is a process that generates the first cell of a new organism. In mammals, fertilization occurs in the female reproductive tract. The male gametes (spermatozoa) are rendered fertilization-competent only after they undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR). The set of physiological changes, characterised by the acquisition of hyperactivated motility, that render the spermatozoa fertilization competent is known as capacitation. Using in vitro models, the complex intracellular signaling events mediating this process are still being understood. This thesis explores the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation using the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) spermatozoa. The knowledge about the molecular components involved in capacitation, apart from enriching our understanding about a basic cellular process could also provide leads in the management of male (in)fertility. A comprehensive review on the perspectives of male reproduction, spermatogenesis, the structural features of a spermatozoon and sperm maturation, relevant to the content of the thesis is provided in Chapter-1 (General Introduction). Molecular mediators that initiate capacitation include cAMP, Ca2+and HCO3- ions. These signalling molecules regulate activities of protein kinases and phosphatases, which control the level of protein phosphorylation in spermatozoa. Capacitation-associated increase in protein phosphorylation, specifically protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PYP) has been demonstrated in a few species such as mouse, rat and human. The unique nature of PYP signaling during sperm capacitation has been exemplified by discoveries of several male germ cell-specific signalling molecules like soluble adenylate cyclase. However,molecular identities of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins and their functional role during sperm capacitation are yet to be investigated in detail. In this context, the effect of modulating intracellular levels of signaling molecules upstream of protein phosphorylation was sought using pentoxifylline (PF), a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Interestingly, PF-induced capacitation was associated with an early induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins (45-80 kDa) localized to the mid piece of the sperm tail. Interestingly, the ultrastructural localization of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in the sperm tail by immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) revealed most intense immunolabelling in the fibrous sheath, followed by outer dense fibers (ODFs)and the axoneme. Data pertaining to the effect of PF on sperm capacitation and the associated protein-phosphorylation is presented in Chapter-2. Since PYP was determined to be extremely critical for hyperactivation in spermatozoa, the involvement of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) in this process was assessed using a specific PTK inhibitor, tyrphostin A47 (TP-47: EGFR-TK specific). The third chapter deals with the effect of tyrphostins on sperm capacitation and PYP. A dose-dependent inhibition by TP-47 of capacitation and principal piece associated-PYP of ~45-60 kDa proteins was observed. Interestingly, TP-47 treated-spermatozoa exhibited a circular motility pattern; when assessed for kinematic parameters, by computer aided sperm analysis, sperm showed lower values for key kinematic parameters as compared to the controls. While sperm viability in TP-47- treated samples was not affected, the ATP content reduced towards latter (4-5 h) part of culture as compared to the controls. When spermatozoa were treated with two other PTK inhibitors, tyrphostin AG1478 (EGFR-TK specific) and tyrphostin AG1296 (PDGFR-TK specific), they did not show any changes in kinematic parameters or PYP, indicating that the TP-47-effect was compound-specific. The fourth chapter of this thesis involves the molecular analysis of proteins hypo-tyrosine phosphorylated in the presence of TP-47, which started with the enrichment of sperm flagellar proteins that are tyrosine phosphorylated during capacitation, using various detergents. Detergent extractions established that most tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were non-membranous in nature, which complemented the IEM data. Therefore, phosphoproteome analysis of the untreated and TP-47-treated sperm samples was performed. For this, protein extracts were subjected to 2D-PAGE-phosphotyrosine immunoblots. A 51 kDa spot and two 45 kDa spots, corresponding to the hypo-tyrosine phosphorylated spots, were analyzed by MS/MS. While peptides from the 51 kDa protein matched with tektin-2 (a microtubular protein), those of the 45 kDa spots matched with ODF-2 protein of the sperm flagellum. Validation of the presence of tektin-2 and ODF-2 protein and their tyrosine-phosphorylated forms on sperm capacitation in the hamster spermatozoa has also been performed. In addition to detailing the role of PYP in hamster sperm capacitation, this study revealed the identities of a few of these proteins, whose tyrosine phosphorylated status could be critical for optimal sperm flagellar bending, required for sperm hyperactivation. By understanding causes that lead to altered sperm function, for example, as observed with hamster spermatozoa, new insights could be achieved into molecular regulatory mechanisms that govern sperm function in clinical cases of non-obstructive male infertility in the human.

Die Inzidenz des Diabetes mellitus (DM) nimmt weltweit jährlich zu und erlangt somit große Bedeutung für die Entwicklung der globalen Gesundheit. Die WHO rechnet bis zum Jahr 2030 mit ungefähr 366 Millionen erwachsenen Diabetikern. Es ist bekannt, dass Männer mit Diabetes mellitus Typ 1 (DMI) und 2 (DMII) häufiger an Subfertilität leiden, wobei dies möglicherweise auf erhöhte Apoptoseraten und vermehrte DNA-Fragmentierungen auf zellulärer Ebene zurückzuführen ist. Die Bedeutung der ROS als Regulatoren von physiologischen und pathologischen Signaltransduktionswegen ist bekannt. Demzufolge könnte die Aktivität der Stickstoffmonoxid-Synthetase (NOS) in diesem Zusammenhang eine Bedeutung haben. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchungen war es, die Auswirkungen von Apoptose und DNA-Fragmentierungen sowie die Bedeutung der NOS im Zusammenhang mit der Fertilitätsfähigkeit von Spermienzellen von DMI und DMII Patienten zu erfassen und damit erste Erklärungsansätze zur Pathophysiologie der diabetesassoziierten Subfertilität zu liefern. Samenproben von Normalspendern und Diabetikern wurden durch Dichtegradientenzentrifugation in Subpopulationen separiert und mittels fluoreszenzbasierten Assays zur Analyse von apoptoseassoziierten Parametern wie dem Zusammenbruch des mitochondrialen Membranpotentials (MMP), Aktivierung von Caspase-3 (CP3), DNA-Fragmentierungen und reaktiven Sauerstoffspezies (ROS) im Flowzytometer (FACS) untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine signifikante Erhöhung von Apoptosemarkern (gestörtes MMP, aktivierte CP3), ROS und DNA-Fragmentationsraten in Spermien von DMI und DMII Patienten im Vergleich zu gesunden Normalspendern. Der Effekt ist bei DMII Patienten verstärkt ausgeprägt. Alle gemessenen Parameter korrelieren umgekehrt mit dem Fertilitätspotential der Spermien, gemessen anhand etablierter Spermiogramm-Analysen, womit ein möglicher Erklärungsmechanismus für die Subfertilität bei Diabetikern geliefert werden kann.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

La dégradation des fonctions de reproduction masculine dans les dernières décennies, et par suite, la baisse du taux de fertilité chez l'homme a renforcé les démarches de recherche des causes d'infertilité masculine, qu'elles soient génétiques, ou environnementales, mettant en œuvre les perturbateurs endocriniens ou d'autres produits reprotoxiques. Par ailleurs, les traitements palliatifs tels que l'aide médicale à la procréation ne permettent qu'à 1 couple sur deux d'obtenir une grossesse. La recherche vise donc également à définir de nouvelles pistes d'amélioration de ces techniques. Les phospholipases A2 (PLA2) sont des enzymes abondamment exprimées dans les organes reproducteurs mâles, le sperme éjaculé et dans le tractus génital femelle. Elles jouent des rôles importants dans la capacitation, la réaction acrosomique (RA) et la fécondation. Nous avons montré au laboratoire que la PLA2 murine secrétée de groupe X (mGX) est présente dans l'acrosome des spermatozoïdes de souris. Elle est libérée au cours de la RA et s'avère un inducteur puissant de la RA. Les mécanismes permettant ces effets sont encore mal connus. Par l'utilisation d'inducteurs et d'inhibiteurs des PLA2, sur des modèles murins wild type ou KO pour certaines PLA2, ce travail montre que durant la capacitation, l'activation des iPLA2 β permet de déclencher une RA spontanée dans une sous-population spécifique de spermatozoïdes. Au cours de la RA induite par la progestérone (P4), On a pu aussi valoriser le rôle des iPLA2 β qui initie la cascade de la RA et permet que les sPLA2 soient activées pour amplifier le déroulement de la réaction acrosomique. Par ailleurs, ce travail montre que l'effet de mGX sur le taux de fécondation et de développement embryonnaire ne dépend pas du taux de la RA. Cet effet obtenu grâce à mGX n'est pas observé avec d'autres sPLA2 (murine ou humaine), ni avec la P4 ce qui lui confère une propriété espèce dépendante. / For the last ten years, the impairment of the male reproductive functions has highly increased, while the use of assisted reproductive techniques has also increased. Despite this evolution, the pregnancy rates obtained in in vitro fertilization (IVF) remain low, as only one in two couples will obtain a pregnancy after 4 attempts. Research has to discover new ways to gain in reproductive impact. Hence, many studies have recently been developed to test molecules that could improve the IVF results. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are part of these molecules. They play an important role, because of their abundant expression in: male reproductive organs, in ejaculated sperm and in the female tract. Several studies have suggested a role for members of the secreted phospholipase A2 family in capacitation, acrosome reaction (AR), and fertilization. We demonstrated previously that sperm from mGX knock-out mice had a severely impaired fertilization potential in vitro, but the molecular nature of these enzymes and their specific functions have remained elusive. Our aims were to study the mechanism of the acrosome reaction by focusing on different kinds of PLA2 using inhibitors and knockout mice for each type of PLA2. We demonstrate the importance of iPLA2β in spontaneous AR occurring during capacitation. We also show that iPLA2β and sPLA2 of group X are both involved in progesterone (P4)-induced AR in mouse sperm. In addition we show that in the mouse neither P4 nor any of the other sPLA2s tested are able to mimic the IVF improvement obtained with mGX-treatment. We also demonstrate that this improvement obtained with phospholipase A2 murine group X is not dependent on the rate of AR. These results demonstrate that sPLA2s are not commutable in the context of mouse sperm fertility, indicating that group X sPLA2 is unique to improve fertility outcome.

SILVA, Katiane Queiroz da. Efeito da adição de plasma seminal e de sua composição bioquimica sobre os espermatozóides epididimários de caprinos. 2009. 43 f. : Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Zootecnia, Fortaleza-CE, 2009 / Submitted by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-02T14:51:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_dis_kqsilva.pdf: 313426 bytes, checksum: 9fae2725277c1fe6e2b27d9bb34c0908 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-02T14:51:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_dis_kqsilva.pdf: 313426 bytes, checksum: 9fae2725277c1fe6e2b27d9bb34c0908 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-02T14:51:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2009_dis_kqsilva.pdf: 313426 bytes, checksum: 9fae2725277c1fe6e2b27d9bb34c0908 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / The objective of this study was to verify the effect of the addition and of the composition of the seminal plasma (SP) on the characteristics of the epididymal spermatozoa (ES) of goat. Eight goat males were used for obtaining of the biological material so that, the SP it was obtained in previous collections and stored at -18 oC until that proceeded to the addition to ES and the biochemical analyses. ES were obtained of the tail of the epididymal by the method of surgical castration. Four sample of 100 μL were removed from the "pool" of ES, and in two of them 120 μL were added of SP. Two sample, one with and other without SP, were diluted in a concentration of 200 x 106 sptz /mL, in the extender citrate-yolk (CY) and in the extender tris-yolk (TY). The samples were evaluated the vigor, motility and motility degradation rate (TDM) in fresh state and for the test of slow thermoresistence, after two and 24 hours of conservation. For the determination of fructose levels and total proteins were used specific kits of In Vitro Diagnóstico S/A®. The determination of activity of the phospholipase A2 was realized by the technique of the pH-stat. For the analysis of the data was used the statistical program SAS@. The results demonstrated that the addition of SP to ES reduced seminal parameters significantly, except in the extender TY when the animals were to grouped in function of concentration of total proteins of SP. Besides, the TY, when used to conserve the ES added of SP with low fructose concentration (540 mg/dL) preserved the seminal characteristics better. It follows that the initial concentration of fructose in the seminal plasma influenced the quality of conservation of the epididymal spermatozoa; as for the total proteins just affected the conservation in the citrate-yolk and the intensity of activity of the phospholipase A2 did not interfere in the conservation at 5 ºC of the epididymal spermatozoa of goat / O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito da adição e da composição do plasma seminal (PS) sobre as características dos espermatozóides epididimários (EEP) de caprinos. Utilizaram-se oito machos caprinos para obtenção do PS, que foi obtido em coletas prévias e armazenado a -18o C até que se procedessem a sua adição aos EEP e as análises bioquímicas. Os EEP foram obtidos da cauda do epidídimo pelo método de castração cirúrgica. Do “pool” de EEP foram retiradas quatro alíquotas de 100 μL, sendo que em duas delas foram adicionados 120 μL de PS e nas outras duas não. Duas alíquotas, uma com e outra sem PS, foram diluídas a uma concentração de 200 x 106 sptz/ mL, no diluidor citrato-gema (CG) e no diluidor tris-gema (TG). As amostras foram avaliadas quanto ao vigor, à motilidade e à taxa de degradação da motilidade (TDM) no seu estado fresco e pelo teste de termorresistência lento, após duas e 24 horas de conservação. Para a determinação dos níveis de frutose e de proteínas totais foram utilizados os kits específicos da In Vitro Diagnóstico S/A®. A determinação da atividade da fosfolipase A2 foi realizada pela técnica do pH-stat. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizado o programa estatístico SAS@. Os resultados demonstraram que a adição de PS aos EEP diminuiu significativamente os parâmetros seminais avaliados, exceto no diluidor TG quando os animais foram agrupados em função da concentração de proteínas totais do PS. Além disso, o TG, quando utilizado para conservar os EEP adicionados de PS de baixa concentração de frutose (540 mg/dL) preservou melhor as características seminais avaliadas. Concluiu-se que a concentração inicial de frutose no PS influenciou positivamente a qualidade de conservação dos espermatozóides epididimários; já a de proteínas totais afetou apenas a conservação no CG e a intensidade de atividade da fosfolipase A2 não interferiu na conservação a 5 ºC dos espermatozóides epididimários de caprinos

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-27 / Objetivos:Avaliar o efeito da varicocele na integridade do DNA nuclear,na atividade mitocondrial,na peroxidação lipídica e na integridade acrossômica dos espermatozóides.Métodos:as amostras foram obtidas e analisadas de acordo com os parâmetros da OMS(1999) e morfologia segundo critério estrito de Kruger.O grupo de estudo incluiu 30 homens com varicocele grauII ou III e o grupo controle incluiu 32 homens sem varicocele.A integridade do DNA nuclear dos espermatozóides foi avaliada pelo ensaio Cometa alcalino, e as células foram classificadas de acordo com a intensidade de dano no DNA:grau I(alta integridade do DNA),grau II(DNA ainda íntegro ou em início de fragmentação),grau III(DNA moderadamente fragmentado)e grau IV(DNA altamente fragmentado).A atividade mitocondrial foi avaliada pelo método colorimétrico proposto por Hrudka(1987),e as células foram classificadas em:classe I(mitocôndrias todas ativas),classe II (mais de 50 por cento de mitocôndrias ativas),classe III(menos de 50 por cento de mitocôndrias ativas)e classe IV(mitocôndrias todas inativas).A peroxidação lipídica foi determinada usando-se o método descrito por Ohkawa(1979),que se baseia na determinação de MDA devido à sua reação com o TBA, e o nível de peroxidação lipídica foi descrito em nanogramas de TBARS/mL de sêmen.A integridade do acrossoma foi avaliada através da sonda fluorescente PNA(Peannut Agglutinin)-FITC (Fluorescein isothiocyanite)conjugada, e o resultado foi expresso em porcentagem de espermatozóides com acrossoma íntegro.Resultados: quanto à integridade do DNA,o grupo de homens com varicocele apresentou uma menor porcentagem de espermatozóides com DNA nuclear íntegro(grau II, p=0,040).Não houve diferença na porcentagem de células grau I,III e IV.Quanto à atividade mitocondrial, o grupo de homens com varicocele apresentou uma porcentagem maior de espermatozóides com mitocôndrias inativas(classe III, p=0,020)e uma porcentagem menor de espermatozóides com mitocôndrias ativas(classe I, p=0,005).Não houve diferença na porcentagem de células classe II e IV.Quanto à integridade acrossômica, o grupo de homens com varicocele apresentou uma menor porcentagem de espermatozóides com acrossoma íntegro(p=0,0002).Por fim, com relação ao nível de peroxidação lipídica,não foi encontrada nenhuma diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos com e sem varicocele.Conclusões: Neste estudo, homens com varicocele apresentaram um aumento nas taxas de fragmentação de DNA e uma redução na atividade mitocondrial e na integridade acrossômica dos espermatozóides.Todavia, nenhuma diferença entre os níveis seminais de MDA foi encontrada, o que sugere que talvez as alterações funcionais encontradas não estejam associadas diretamente com o estresse oxidativo, ou que o estresse oxidativo leve a alterações no DNA, mitocôndrias e acrossoma durante a espermatogênese, e não após a ejaculação / Objectives: to assess the effect of varicocele on sperm nuclear DNA integrity, mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation and acrosome integrity. Methods: semen samples were obtained and analyzed according to the World Health Organization guidelines (1999) and sperm morphology was evaluated by Kruger’s strict criteria (1986). The study group included 30 men with varicocele grades II or III and the control group included 32 men without varicocele. Sperm nuclear DNA integrity was assessed by the alkaline Comet assay, and cells were graded according to the intensity of DNA damage: class I (high DNA integrity), class II (DNA still intact or initiating fragmentation), class III (DNA fairly fragmented) and class IV (DNA extremely fragmented). Mitochondrial activity was evaluated by the colorimetric method proposed by Hrudka (1987). Cells were classified according to the proportion of active mitochondria: class I (100% of active mitochondria), class II (more than 50% of active mitochondria), class III (less than 50% of active mitochondria) and class IV (100% of inactive mitochondria). Lipid peroxidation was determinated by Ohkawa’s method, which is based on the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) due to its reaction with thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and the levels of lipid peroxidation were described as nanograms of TBARS/mL. Acrosome integrity was assessed by use of the conjugated fluorescent probe PNA-FITC and the results were expressed in percentages of intact acrosomes (fluorescence was observed over the entire acrosomal region of the sperm head). Results: Concerning DNA integrity, the varicocele group showed less spermatozoa with intact nuclear DNA (grade II, p=0,040). There was no significant difference in classes I, III and IV between the two groups. Regarding mitochondrial activity the varicocele group showed more cells with inactive mitochondria (class III, p=0,001) and less cells with active mitochondria (class I, p=0,005). There was no difference in classes II and IV. Also, the varicocele group showed less spermatozoa with intact acrosomes (p=0,0002), when compared to the controls. Finally, no significant differences were observed in lipid peroxidation levels. Conclusions: This study was able to demonstrate that varicocele in adults is associated with increased DNA fragmentation, reduced mitochondrial activity and decreased acrosome integrity even when semen quality does not differ from men without varicocele. However, levels of seminal products of lipid degradation (MDA) are not increased in these patients, suggesting that perhaps the functional changes found are not directly associated with oxidative stress, or that oxidative stress leads to changes in DNA, acrosomes and mitochondria during spermatogenesis, and not after ejaculation. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

The effect of gamete storage on sperm quality has received considerable attention in recent years. Previous studies have shown that spermatozoa stored in vivo or in vitro for a long time can lost their motility and fertilization capacity. Moreover, it have been concluded that male fertilization potential is highly dependent, not only on spermatozoa motility parameters, but also on organic components including protein composition of seminal plasma. On the other hand, spermatozoa motility and protein profiles of seminal plasma are highly dependent on conditions of storage. Therefore, additional data about effects of in vivo and in vitro storage on quality sperm parameters and protein composition of seminal plasma are essential for development of fish artificial reproduction methods. In the current work the influence of in vitro and in vivo storage on parameters of sperm motility, DNA integrity, antioxidant defensive system and seminal plasma protein composition were studied. As a conclusion, the results of this study provide new data on sperm quality and quantity parameters of chondrostean and teleost fish species with respect to in vivo and in vitro storage capacities, which should be beneficial for the development of aquaculture of these species. The data confirmed that protein patterns in seminal plasma varied during in vivo storage, depending on time of sperm collection. Furthermore, the altered proteins are probably involved in enzymatic pathways that regulate spermatozoa movement. In practice, the results presented in this thesis should help to improve management and optimize the development of protocols for artificial reproduction.