Molecular insights to the sperm–cervix interaction and the consequences for cryopreserved sperm

Cryopreserved ram spermatozoa are limited in their capacity to traverse the ovine cervix and achieve fertilization. This altered interaction may be related to modified molecular communication between frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa, seminal plasma, and the female tract. As such, this review aims to id...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology of reproduction 2023-02, Vol.108 (2), p.1-14
Main Authors: Warr, Sophie, Pini, Taylor, de Graaf, Simon P., Rickard, Jessica P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell culture
Cervix
Cervix Uteri
Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation - veterinary
Female
Fertility
Fertilization
Gene expression
Male
Reproductive system
REVIEW
RNA
Semen
Semen - physiology
Semen Preservation - veterinary
Sheep
Sheep, Domestic
Sperm
Sperm Motility - physiology
sperm survival
Spermatozoa - metabolism
transcriptome
Transcriptomics
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Summary:Cryopreserved ram spermatozoa are limited in their capacity to traverse the ovine cervix and achieve fertilization. This altered interaction may be related to modified molecular communication between frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa, seminal plasma, and the female tract. As such, this review aims to identify the biological processes which underpin sperm maturation and transport throughout the female reproductive tract to elucidate factors which may alter this natural process in cryopreserved ram spermatozoa. We also assess critical barriers to ram spermatozoa specific to the ovine cervix and the role of seminal plasma in mitigating these barriers. Transcriptomics is explored as a new approach to understand the sperm–cervix interaction. Recent studies have demonstrated that both spermatozoa and seminal plasma contain a complex profile of coding and non-coding RNAs. These molecular species have clear links with functional fertility, and mounting evidence suggests they may be altered by cryopreservation. Emerging in vitro cell culture models are also investigated as a “next step” in studying this interaction, utilizing transcriptomics to identify subtle changes in female tract gene expression in response to spermatozoa. The application of such models is proposed as an exciting opportunity to investigate the unique challenges faced by cryopreserved spermatozoa traversing the ovine cervix prior to fertilization. Summary Sentence Transcriptomics is suggested as a new approach to understand the sperm–cervix interaction which is thought to mediate the limited fertility associated with cervical artificial insemination and frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa.
ISSN:0006-3363
1529-7268
DOI:10.1093/biolre/ioac188