Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm

IntroductionThe livestock industry has witnessed a notable increase in the proportion of male calves born following artificial insemination with cryopreserved semen, hinting at a possible association between cryotolerance and inherent structural or functional disparities between X- and Y-chromosome...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jieru Wang, Ruchun Li, Fei Huang, Peng Niu, Yanling Zheng, Dongfang Yuan, Yan Du, Congcong Li, Mingcai Yang, Jiajia Suo, Qinghua Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1582961/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849321359779299328
author Jieru Wang
Jieru Wang
Ruchun Li
Fei Huang
Peng Niu
Yanling Zheng
Dongfang Yuan
Yan Du
Congcong Li
Mingcai Yang
Jiajia Suo
Jiajia Suo
Qinghua Gao
Qinghua Gao
author_facet Jieru Wang
Jieru Wang
Ruchun Li
Fei Huang
Peng Niu
Yanling Zheng
Dongfang Yuan
Yan Du
Congcong Li
Mingcai Yang
Jiajia Suo
Jiajia Suo
Qinghua Gao
Qinghua Gao
author_sort Jieru Wang
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe livestock industry has witnessed a notable increase in the proportion of male calves born following artificial insemination with cryopreserved semen, hinting at a possible association between cryotolerance and inherent structural or functional disparities between X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperm. To delve into this phenomenon, we conducted a comprehensive proteomic analysis on bovine sex-sorted semen.MethodsSperm samples were meticulously categorized based on stringent quality parameters. Concurrent sorting of X- and Y-sperm from identical ejaculates was performed, followed by protein extraction for subsequent analysis. Quantitative isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) were employed to identify differentially expressed proteins.ResultsiTRAQ pinpointed 20 proteins with differential expression between X- and Y-spermatozoa, including 12 upregulated and 8 downregulated proteins in Y-sperm. Aquaporin 7 (AQP7), significantly upregulated in Y-sperm, was identified as a key candidate. Western blot analysis corroborated elevated AQP7 expression in Y-sperm compared to X-sperm, while Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) showed no significant difference. Immunofluorescence revealed AQP7 localization to the post-acrosomal region, midpiece, and principal piece of Y-sperm with higher fluorescence intensity, whereas AQP3 distribution was comparable between groups.DiscussionThese findings imply a potential role for AQP7 in augmenting Y-sperm cryotolerance, providing molecular insights into sex-specific cryopreservation effects on fertility outcomes. Future research should elucidate AQP7’s functional mechanisms and explore implications for livestock breeding technologies.
format Article
id doaj-art-ae281b27ea92427e83337381e9ef95ca
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-634X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
spelling doaj-art-ae281b27ea92427e83337381e9ef95ca2025-08-20T03:49:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-05-011310.3389/fcell.2025.15829611582961Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine spermJieru Wang0Jieru Wang1Ruchun Li2Fei Huang3Peng Niu4Yanling Zheng5Dongfang Yuan6Yan Du7Congcong Li8Mingcai Yang9Jiajia Suo10Jiajia Suo11Qinghua Gao12Qinghua Gao13Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, Shandong, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, ChinaCollege of Animal Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang, ChinaIntroductionThe livestock industry has witnessed a notable increase in the proportion of male calves born following artificial insemination with cryopreserved semen, hinting at a possible association between cryotolerance and inherent structural or functional disparities between X- and Y-chromosome bearing sperm. To delve into this phenomenon, we conducted a comprehensive proteomic analysis on bovine sex-sorted semen.MethodsSperm samples were meticulously categorized based on stringent quality parameters. Concurrent sorting of X- and Y-sperm from identical ejaculates was performed, followed by protein extraction for subsequent analysis. Quantitative isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) were employed to identify differentially expressed proteins.ResultsiTRAQ pinpointed 20 proteins with differential expression between X- and Y-spermatozoa, including 12 upregulated and 8 downregulated proteins in Y-sperm. Aquaporin 7 (AQP7), significantly upregulated in Y-sperm, was identified as a key candidate. Western blot analysis corroborated elevated AQP7 expression in Y-sperm compared to X-sperm, while Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) showed no significant difference. Immunofluorescence revealed AQP7 localization to the post-acrosomal region, midpiece, and principal piece of Y-sperm with higher fluorescence intensity, whereas AQP3 distribution was comparable between groups.DiscussionThese findings imply a potential role for AQP7 in augmenting Y-sperm cryotolerance, providing molecular insights into sex-specific cryopreservation effects on fertility outcomes. Future research should elucidate AQP7’s functional mechanisms and explore implications for livestock breeding technologies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1582961/fullAQP7AQP3cryotolerance of spermX-spermY-sperm
spellingShingle Jieru Wang
Jieru Wang
Ruchun Li
Fei Huang
Peng Niu
Yanling Zheng
Dongfang Yuan
Yan Du
Congcong Li
Mingcai Yang
Jiajia Suo
Jiajia Suo
Qinghua Gao
Qinghua Gao
Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
AQP7
AQP3
cryotolerance of sperm
X-sperm
Y-sperm
title Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm
title_full Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm
title_fullStr Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm
title_full_unstemmed Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm
title_short Comparative analysis of AQP7 expression and cryotolerance in X- and Y-chromosome bearing bovine sperm
title_sort comparative analysis of aqp7 expression and cryotolerance in x and y chromosome bearing bovine sperm
topic AQP7
AQP3
cryotolerance of sperm
X-sperm
Y-sperm
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1582961/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jieruwang comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT jieruwang comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT ruchunli comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT feihuang comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT pengniu comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT yanlingzheng comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT dongfangyuan comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT yandu comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT congcongli comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT mingcaiyang comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT jiajiasuo comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT jiajiasuo comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT qinghuagao comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm
AT qinghuagao comparativeanalysisofaqp7expressionandcryotoleranceinxandychromosomebearingbovinesperm