title: Adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase, AMPK, is involved in the maintenance of the quality of extended boar semen during long-term storage.
abstract: Boar semen preservation for later use in artificial insemination is performed by diluting semen in an appropriate medium and then lowering the temperature to decrease spermatozoa metabolism. The adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase, AMPK, is a key cell energy sensor that controls cell metabolism and recently has been identified in boar spermatozoa. Our aim was to investigate the role of AMPK in spermatozoa functional parameters including motility, mitochondrial membrane potential, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and cell viability during long-term boar semen storage at 17 °C in Beltsville thawing solution. Boar seminal doses were diluted in Beltsville thawing solution in the presence or absence of different concentrations of AMPK inhibitor, compound C (1, 10, and 30 μM) and evaluations were performed at 1, 2, 4, 7, or 10 days. Data demonstrate that AMPK becomes phosphorylated at threonine(172) (active) during storage of boar semen reaching maximum levels at Day 7. Moreover, AMPK inhibition during boar semen storage causes: (1) a potent inhibition of spermatozoa motility; (2) a reduction in the percentage of spermatozoa showing high mitochondria membrane potential; (3) a rise in the percentage of spermatozoa displaying high plasma membrane scrambling; and (4) a loss of acrosomal membrane integrity. Our study suggests that AMPK activity plays an important role in the maintenance of the spermatozoa quality during long-term storage of boar semen.
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Intracellular Signalling and Technology of Reproduction (SINTREP), Veterinary School, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martin-Hidalgo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hurtado de Llera
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeste
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz Gil
authors.forename: M Julia
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bragado
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Garcia-Marin
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011786:Quality Control; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: AMPK; Acrosomal integrity; Boar semen storage; Membrane integrity; Motility; Viability