title: Aquaporins in boar spermatozoa. Part II: detection and localisation of aquaglyceroporin 3.
abstract: The proteins belonging to the aquaporin family play a fundamental role in water and solute transport across biological membranes. While the presence of these proteins has been extensively studied in somatic cells, their function in mammalian spermatozoa has been studied less. The present study was designed to identify and localise aquaglyceroporin 3 (AQP3) in boar spermatozoa. With this purpose, 29 fresh ejaculates from post-pubertal Piétrain boars were classified into two groups based upon their sperm quality and subsequently evaluated through western blot and immunofluorescence assessments. Western blotting showed the specific signal band of AQP3 at 25 kDa, whereas immunofluorescence assessments allowed us to identify two different AQP3 localisation patterns: (1) spermatozoa presenting a clear labelling located only in the mid-piece and (2) spermatozoa exhibiting a distribution pattern in the head and along the entire tail. The first staining pattern was predominant in all studied ejaculates. Despite individual differences in AQP3 content and localisation between boar ejaculates, these differences were not correlated with sperm quality. In conclusion, although AQP3 is present in boar spermatozoa in two different localisation patterns, neither the AQP3 content nor its localisation have been found to be associated with conventional sperm parameters.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prieto-Martínez
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morató
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vilagran
authors.affiliation: Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain.
authors.forename: Joan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Gil
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonet
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeste
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051397:Aquaglyceroporins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D051397:Aquaglyceroporins