Characterization of antisperm antibody binding patterns in relation to sperm phenotypic attributes and field fertility in dairy bulls

C Kuntareddi; A Kumaresan; K K Saraf; P Nag; N Paul; S P Kurati; S Selvaraju; S Jeyakumar; A Manimaran; K P Ramesha; A Arangasamy

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.09.022

Characterization of antisperm antibody binding patterns in relation to sperm phenotypic attributes and field fertility in dairy bulls

Theriogenology. 2020 Jan 1:141:161-167. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.09.022. Epub 2019 Sep 14.

Authors

C Kuntareddi¹, A Kumaresan², K K Saraf¹, P Nag¹, N Paul¹, S P Kurati¹, S Selvaraju³, S Jeyakumar⁴, A Manimaran⁴, K P Ramesha⁴, A Arangasamy³

Affiliations

¹ Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, 560030, Karnataka, India.
² Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, 560030, Karnataka, India. Electronic address: ogkumaresan@gmail.com.
³ Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, ICAR - National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru, 560030, Karnataka, India.
⁴ Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, 560030, Karnataka, India.

PMID: 31542519
DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.09.022

Abstract

To test our hypothesis that antisperm antibodies (ASA) might alter sperm phenotypic attributes thus leading to sub-fertility/infertility in bulls, ASA were generated in crossbred male calves by immunizing with sperm two times. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from crossbred bulls (n = 24) with different field fertility ratings were incubated with ASA and different patterns of ASA immunolocalization were studied. In addition, sperm membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity and cryo-capacitation status were also assessed. Immunolocalization of sperm antigens using antisperm antibody revealed three major patterns (Acrosomal-AR, apical-AP and, acrosome and tail-AT). The proportion of ASA reactive spermatozoa was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in low- and medium-fertile bulls compared to high-fertile bulls. Among the three patterns, the proportion of spermatozoa with AR pattern was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in low- and medium-fertile bulls compared to high-fertile bulls. The proportion of membrane and acrosome intact spermatozoa was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in high-fertile bulls compared to medium- and low-fertile bulls. There were no significant differences in the proportion of cryo-capacitated spermatozoa among high-, medium- and low-fertile bulls. The relationship between ASA reactive spermatozoa and conception rates (CR) of bulls was highly (P < 0.01) significant and negative. Similarly, AR and AT pattern were also significantly (P < 0.01) and negatively related to CR of bulls. The reactivity of spermatozoa with ASA was also significantly (P < 0.01) and negatively related to the membrane and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa. It was concluded that the proportion of spermatozoa responding to ASA was higher in low-compared to high-fertile bulls and ASA localization in sperm acrosomal area was negatively related to sperm membrane and acrosomal integrity and bull fertility.

Keywords: Acrosomal integrity; Antisperm antibodies; Bull fertility; Membrane integrity.

MeSH terms

Animals
Antibodies / physiology*
Antibody Specificity / physiology*
Antigens / physiology
Cattle / immunology
Cattle / physiology*
Fertility / physiology*
Male
Semen Analysis
Spermatozoa / physiology*

Substances

Antibodies
Antigens