Control of bull sperm cell volume during epididymal maturation
Evrim Sahin A B , Anna M. Petrunkina C F G H , Dagmar Waberski A , Robin A. P. Harrison D and Edda Töpfer-Petersen E GA Clinic for Pigs and Small Ruminants, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Unit of Reproductive Medicine of the Clinics, Bünteweg 15, Hannover 30559, Germany.
B Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Unit of Reproductive Medicine of the Clinics, Bünteweg 15, Hannover 30559, Germany.
C Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Unit of Reproductive Medicine of the Clinics, Bünteweg 15, Hannover 30559, Germany.
D 11 London Road, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB22 5DB, UK.
E Institute for Reproductive Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 15, Hannover 30559, Germany.
F Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Welcome Trust/MRC Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
G Joint senior authors.
H Corresponding author. Email: anna.petrunkina@gmx.de
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(3) 469-478 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD08162
Submitted: 27 July 2008 Accepted: 7 November 2008 Published: 4 March 2009
Abstract
Mature spermatozoa have a mechanism by which they can reduce cellular swelling caused by hypo-osmotic stress. The development of this ability during epididymal maturation in the bull was investigated. Caput and cauda sperm preparations were exposed to various osmotic stresses at 38°C and measurements of cell volume made by electronic cell sizing. (1) Epididymal spermatozoa recovered and incubated in a medium isotonic with caudal epididymal plasma (360 mOsm kg–1) showed better viability and better volume regulatory ability than those incubated in a medium isotonic with seminal plasma (300 mOsm kg–1) or in seminal plasma itself. (2) Preparations of both caput and cauda spermatozoa, isolated in a medium isotonic with caudal epididymal plasma, contained two volumetric subpopulations, unrelated to the presence or absence of attached cytoplasmic droplets. (3) The cell volume of both subpopulations of caput spermatozoa was always greater than that of the corresponding cauda spermatozoa subpopulations. (4) After exposure to hypotonic challenge, both caput and cauda spermatozoa were able to reduce their relative volumes, demonstrating that both immature and mature cells are able to express regulatory volume decrease under physiological conditions. (5) When spermatozoa were incubated in chloride- or sodium-free media, although two subpopulations remained present, the volume of the caput sperm populations decreased to that of their counterparts in cauda sperm preparations. It is concluded that immature caput spermatozoa are capable of regulating their volume in a similar fashion to mature cauda spermatozoa but are less able to control their isotonic volume, probably due to poorly controlled sodium and chloride ion transport.
Acknowledgements
The funding for the present work was generously provided by the Dr H. C. Karl Eibl Foundation (Neustadt/Aisch, Germany), the Development Association for Biotechnology Research (FBF, Bonn, Germany), and the PhD Program ‘Veterinary Research and Animal Biology’ (University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany). We thank Mrs Christel Hettel warmly for her expert technical assistance.
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