Short abstinence: Impact on the seminal plasma proteome and accessory sex gland secretions

Date
2018-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Various studies have sought to determine the typical versus optimal abstinence period after which semen samples should be collected, and many have been found to be contradictory. Several factors influence the semen microenvironment and subsequent sperm basic and functional parameters. In this study we focused on important biomarkers of prostate, seminal vesicle and epididymal secretion. Furthermore, extensive proteomic analysis of seminal plasma was performed for a more comprehensive understanding of the observations. Semen samples were obtained from normozoospermic donors (n = 16) after 4 days and 4 hours of ejaculatory abstinence (EA) and standard semen analysis was performed with the assistance of computer aided sperm analysis (CASA), while the seminal plasma citric acid, neutral alpha-glucosidase and fructose concentrations were measured photometrically with commercially available assay kits. Protein identification was performed using advanced mass spectrometric techniques and pathways were analysed on both Reactome and String databases. Results of this study displayed significant decreases in semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, and pH after 4 hours of ejaculatory abstinence when compared to 4 days. Furthermore, increases in total sperm motility and progressive motility after short EA periods were observed, accompanied by significant reductions in all epididymal and accessory sex gland biomarker concentrations. However, due to the decreased sperm number, these concentrations translated to a significant increase in citric acid and a decrease in fructose available per spermatozoon, which, along with the effects on semen pH, could more than likely be responsible for increased metabolic function and subsequent increase in the available energy for sperm motility. Proteomic analysis identified 22 differentially expressed seminal plasma proteins, with 18 proteins upregulated after 4 days of EA and 3 upregulated after 4 hours of EA. Of the proteins differentially expressed, 5 proteins from 4 days of EA and 2 proteins from 4 hours of EA, were identified to be related to sperm function and thus selected for pathway analysis. proteins were found to be prominent components of cellular processes including metabolism, apoptosis and cell process regulation, which can be linked directly and indirectly to sperm motility parameters. To conclude, the mechanisms by which very short EA improves sperm motility depends on seminal plasma composition thereby affecting metabolic function and protein interactions.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verskeie studies het probeer om die tipiese versus optimale onthoudingsperiode te bepaal waarna semenmonsters versamel moet word, maar heelwat teenstrydighede is gevind. Verskeie faktore beïnvloed die semen mikro-omgewing en daaropvolgende sperm-basiese en funksionele parameters. In die huidige studie is daar gefokus op belangrike biomerkers in sekresies afkomstig vanaf die prostaat, seminale vesikels en epididimis. Uitgebreide proteomiese analises is ook op die seminale plasma uitgevoer om sodoende 'n meer omvattende begrip vir die waarnemings te verkry. Semenmonsters is bekom vanaf normozoospermiese skenkers (n = 16) na 4 dae en 4 ure van ejakulatoriese onthouding (EO) en ʼn standaard semenanalise is uitgevoer met behulp van rekenaargesteunde spermanalise (RGSA), terwyl die seminale plasma sitroensuur, neutrale alfa-glukosidase en fruktose konsentrasies fotometries bepaal is met kommersieel beskikbare toetsstelle. Proteïenidentifikasie is uitgevoer met behulp van gevorderde massa spektrometriese tegnieke en proteoompad interaksies is geanaliseer op beide Reactome en String databasisse. Die resultate van hierdie studie toon beduidende afnames in semenvolume, spermkonsentrasie, totale spermtelling en pH aan ná 4 uur van EO in vergelyking met 4 dae. Verder is toenames in totale spermmotiliteit en progressiewe motiliteit na kort EO periodes waargeneem. Dit is vergesel van 'n betekenisvolle vermindering in alle epididimale en bykomende geslagsklierbiomerkerkonsentrasies. Nietemin, as gevolg van die verminderde spermgetal, herlei hierdie konsentrasies egter tot 'n beduidende toename in sitroensuur en 'n afname in fruktose beskikbaar per spermatozoon, wat tesame met die effekte op semen pH waarskynlik verantwoordelik kan wees vir verhoogde metaboliese funksie en daaropvolgende toename in die beskikbare energie vir spermmotiliteit. Proteomiese analise het 22 differensiaal uitgedrukte seminale plasma proteïene identifiseer, waarvan 18 proteïene opgereguleer was na 4 dae van EO en 3 opgereguleer was na 4 ure van EO. Van die proteïene wat differensiaal uitgedruk was, is 5 proteïene vanaf 4 dae EO en 2 proteïene vanaf 4 ure EO gekoppel aan spermfunksie en gekies vir verdere proteoompad interaksie analise. Daar is bevind dat hierdie proteïne prominente rolspelers is in sellulêre prosesse, insluitende metabolisme, sellulêre motiliteit, apoptose en selprosesregulering. Om mee af te sluit, die meganismes waardeur baie kort EO spermmotiliteit verbeter berus op seminale plasma samestelling met gevolglike effekte op metaboliese funksie en proteïen interaksies.
Description
Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2018.
Keywords
Sexual abstinence, Citric acid, Fructose, Proteomics, Seminal plasma proteins, Sperm, UCTD
Citation