Back to Search Start Over

Seminal cell-free DNA as a potential marker for in vitro fertility of Nellore bulls.

Authors :
Dode MAN
Capobianco N
Vargas LN
Mion B
Kussano NR
Spricigo JF
Franco MM
Source :
Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics [J Assist Reprod Genet] 2024 May; Vol. 41 (5), pp. 1357-1370. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Mar 05.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to identify a marker for freezability and in vitro fertility of sperm samples before freezing.<br />Methods: Semen was collected from nine Nelore bulls; half of the ejaculate was used for seminal plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) quantification, and the other half was cryopreserved. Evaluation of sperm movement using computer-assisted semen analysis and plasma membrane integrity and stability, acrosomal integrity, apoptosis, and mitochondrial potential using flow cytometry were performed on fresh and frozen/thawed semen at 0, 3, 6, and 12 h after thawing. Frozen/thawed sperm was also used for in vitro embryo production. cfDNA was extracted from each bull, and the total DNA and number of cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cfmtDNA) copies were quantified. Semen from each animal was used for IVF, and cleavage, blastocyst formation, and cell counts were evaluated.<br />Results: Two groups were formed and compared based on the concentrations of cfDNA and cfmDNA present: low-cfDNA and high-cfDNA and low-cfmtDNA and high-cfmtDNA. Up to 12 h post-thawing, there were no differences between the groups in the majority of the sperm parameters evaluated. Cleavage, day 6 and 7 blastocyst rates, and the number of cells were higher in the high cfDNA group than in the low cfDNA group. Similar results were observed for cfmtDNA, except for the number of cells, which was similar between the groups.<br />Conclusion: The concentration of cfDNA and the relative number of copies of cfmtDNA in seminal plasma cannot predict the freezability of semen but can be used to predict in vitro embryo production.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1573-7330
Volume :
41
Issue :
5
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
38438770
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-024-03068-y