title: Oviductal epithelial cells selected boar sperm according to their functional characteristics.
abstract: The interaction of oviductal epithelial cells (OECs) with the spermatozoa has beneficial effects on the sperm functions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro fertilizing capacity of incubating spermatozoa previously selected by density gradient in OEC and determinate some sperm characteristics that could explain the results obtained. In this study, we assessed in vitro fertilization (IVF), tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphatidylserine translocation, nuclear DNA fragmentation, and chromatin decondensation. Three experimental sperm groups, previously selected by Percoll gradient, were established according to the origin of the sperm used for IVF: (i) W30 group: spermatozoa were incubated with oocytes in the absence of OEC; (ii) NB group: after sperm incubation in OEC, the unbound spermatozoa were incubated with oocytes, in the absence of OEC; and (iii) B group: after sperm incubation with OEC, the bound spermatozoa were incubated with oocytes in the OEC plates. The results showed that sperm from the NB group led to a lower IVF yield, accompanied by low penetration rates (NB: 19.6%, B: 94.9%, and W30: 62.9%; P < 0.001) and problems of nuclear decondensation. Moreover, higher levels of tyrosine phosphorylation were observed in the NB group compared with the W30 and B groups (NB: 58.7%, B: 2.5%, and W30: 4.5%; P < 0.01). A similar trend was observed in phosphatidylserine translocation (NB: 93.7%, B: 5.7%, and W30: 44.2%; P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that the OEC exerts a rigorous degree of sperm selection, even within an already highly selected population of spermatozoa, and can capture the best functional spermatozoa for fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), Murcia 30100, Spain.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Úbeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), Murcia 30100, Spain.|IMIB-Arrixaca (Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: García-Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), Murcia 30100, Spain.|IMIB-Arrixaca (Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gadea
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Murcia, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research (Campus Mare Nostrum), Murcia 30100, Spain.|IMIB-Arrixaca (Institute for Biomedical Research of Murcia), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matás
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002843:Chromatin; D003470:Culture Media; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D003470:Culture Media; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D014443:Tyrosine