title: A preliminary study on epigenetic changes during boar spermatozoa cryopreservation.
abstract: Artificial insemination (AI) with cryopreserved boar semen is limited to no more than 1% of the total number of inseminations due to low conception rates and litter sizes. Cryopreservation causes a dramatic decrease in the viability, motility and fertility of spermatozoa, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, mRNA expression and protein levels of epigenetic-related genes (Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, Jhdm2a, Kat8, Prm1, Prm2 and IGF2) in fresh and cryopreserved boar spermatozoa were evaluated using qRT-PCR and ELISA. The results showed that cryopreservation or freezing, which drastically alter the environmental stimuli, can induce epigenetic changes of boar spermatozoa. Dramatic changes of mRNA expression of epigenetic-related genes were observed before and after cryopreservation, and low protein levels of multiple genes were mainly found in program freezing groups with or without LEY. The addition of different cryoprotective agents to the freezing extender can provide better protective effects for boar spermatozoa to avoid freezing or cryopreservation-induced expression changes of epigenetic-related genes.
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China. Electronic address: zengchj@sicau.edu.cn.
authors: Changjun
authors: C
authors: Zeng
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China.
authors: Wenpei
authors: W
authors: Peng
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Ding
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China.
authors: Lian
authors: L
authors: He
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China.
authors: Donghui
authors: D
authors: Fang
authors: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan Province 625014, PR China.
authors: Keyi
authors: K
authors: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D056466:Histone Demethylases / Q000235:genetics; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D011479:Protamines / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000235:genetics; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics; D014199:Trehalose / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D011479:Protamines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013002:Somatomedins; D014199:Trehalose; D056466:Histone Demethylases; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Boar spermatozoa cryopreservation; ELISA; Epigenetic changes; Spermatozoa viability and motility; qRT-PCR