Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Caprine cauda epididymal sperm motility pattern in the capacitation medium supplemented with leptin

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with a role in the reproductive system through metabolic signals. Studies have suggested that binding of leptin to its receptors which have been found in human and boar sperm activates biochemical pathways leading to sperm capacitation. The present study was designed to explore the effects of leptin on sperm kinetic pattern during capacitation in vitro. Epididymal spermatozoa were obtained from 30 adult goat testes in six replicates and incubated in capacitation medium (Ca2+-free Tyrode’s medium, Sperm-TALP) supplemented with 0 (Con, control group), 10 and 100 ng/mL (L10 and L100 groups, respectively). Motion parameters were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis system at 10, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after sperm incubation at 37°C and 6 % CO2. Exposure of spermatozoa to two different doses of leptin caused a significant increase (p < 0.05) in total and progressive sperm motility, curvilinear and straight line velocity, linearity (Lin), mean angular displacement, amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross-frequency (BCF) compared to the control group specially up to 60 min. There was not any significant difference between L10 and L100 groups in the evaluated parameters except for the first 10 min that L100 had better result in increasing Lin, ALH and BCF (p < 0.05) and at the time of 240 min in which L10 showed a significant increase in all motion parameters. In conclusion, this study showed that leptin supplementation had significant effects on sperm motility patterns and so could enhance the sperm capacitation process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aitken RJ, Nixon B, Lin M, Koppers AJ, Lee YH, Baker MA (2007) Proteomic changes in mammalian spermatozoa during epididymal maturation. Asian J Androl 9:554–564

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aparicio IM, Bragado MJ, Gil MC, Garcia-Herreros M, Gonzalez-Fernandez L, Tapia JA, Garcia-Marin LJ (2006) Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway regulates sperm viability but not capacitation on boar spermatozoa. Mol Reprod Dev 74:1035–1042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aquila S, Gentile M, Middea E, Catalano S, Morelli C, Pezzi V, Ando S (2005) Leptin secretion by human ejaculated spermatozoa. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:4753–4761

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aquila S, Rago V, Guido C, Casaburi I, Zupo S, Carpino A (2008) Leptin and leptin receptor in pig spermatozoa: evidence of their involvement in sperm capacitation and survival. Reproduction 136:23–32

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouloumie A, Drexler HC, Lafontan M, Busse R (1998) Leptin, the product of Ob gene, promotes angiogenesis. Circ Res 83:1059–1066

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caprio M, Isidori AM, Carta AR, Moretti C, Dufau ML, Fabbri A (1999) Expression of functional leptin receptors in rodent Leydig cells. Endocrinology 140:4939–4947

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham MJ, Clifton DK, Steiner RA (1999) Leptin’s actions on the reproductive axis: perspectives and mechanisms. Biol Reprod 60:216–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dallongeville J, Fruchart JC, Auwerx J (1998) Leptin, a pleiotropic hormone: physiology, pharmacology, and strategies for discovery of leptin modulators. J Med Chem 41:5337–5352

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Ambrogi M, Spinaci M, Galeati G, Tamanini C (2007) Leptin receptor in boar spermatozoa. Int J Androl 30:458–461

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dieterich KD, Lehnert H (1998) Expression of leptin receptor mRNA and the long form splice variant in human anterior pituitary and pituitary adenoma. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 106:522–525

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galantino-Homer HL, Visconti PE, Kopf GS (1997) Regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation during bovine sperm capacitation by a cyclic adenosine 3′ 5′-monophosphate-dependent pathway. Biol Reprod 56:707–719

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gordon I (1994) Laboratory production of cattle embryo. CAB International, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Jope T, Lammert A, Kratzsch J, Paasch U, Glander HJ (2003) Leptin and leptin receptor in human seminal plasma and in human spermatozoa. Int J Androl 26:335–341

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalab P, Peknicova J, Geussova G, Moos J (1998) Regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in boar sperm through a cAMP-dependent pathway. Mol Reprod Dev 51:304–314

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamohara S, Burcelin R, Halaas JL, Friedman JM, Charron MJ (1997) Acute stimulation of glucose metabolism in mice by leptin treatment. Nature 389:374–377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lampiao F, du Plessis SS (2008) Insulin and leptin enhance human sperm motility, acrosome reaction and nitric oxide production. Asian J Androl 10:799–807

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leclerc P, de Lamirande E, Gagnon C (1996) Cyclic adenosine 3′,5′monophosphate-dependent regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in relation to human sperm capacitation and motility. Biol Reprod 55:684–692

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu RZ, Na WL, Zhang HG, Lin ZY, Xue BG, Xu ZG (2008) Assessment of released acrosin activity as a measurement of the sperm acrosome reaction. Asian J Androl 10:236–242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Margetic S, Gazzola C, Pegg GG, Hill RA (2002) Leptin: a review of its peripheral actions and interactions. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 26:1407–1433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Quinton ND, Smith RF, Clayton PE, Gill MS, Shalet S, Justice SK, Simon SA, Walters S, Postel-Vinay MC, Blakemore AI, Ross RJ (1999) Leptin binding activity changes with age: the link between leptin and puberty. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84:2336–2341

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rossetti L, Massillon D, Barzilai N, Vuguin P, Chen W, Hawkins M, Wu J, Wang J (1997) Short term effects of leptin on hepatic gluconeogenesis and in vivo insulin action. J Biol Chem 272:27758–27763

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shadan S, James PS, Howes EA, Jones R (2004) Cholesterol efflux alters lipid raft stability and distribution during capacitation of boar spermatozoa. Biol Reprod 71:253–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tartaglia LA (1997) The leptin receptor. J Biol Chem 272:6093–6096

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tena-Sempere M, Pinilla L, Gonzalez LC, Dieguez C, Casanueva FF, Aguilar E (1999) Leptin inhibits testosterone secretion from adult rat testis in vitro. J Endocrinol 161:211–218

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas T (2004) The complex effects of leptin on bone metabolism through multiple pathways. Curr Opin Pharmacol 4:295–300

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visconti PE, Bailey JL, Moore GD, Pan D, Olds-Clarke P, Kopf GS (1995) Capacitation of mouse spermatozoa. I. Correlation between the capacitation state and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Development 121:1129–1137

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Visconti PE, Galantino-Homer H, Moore GD, Bailey JL, Ning X, Fornes M, Kopf GS (1998) The molecular basis of sperm capacitation. J Androl 19:242–248

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wauters M, Considine RV, Van Gaal LF (2000) Human leptin: from an adipocyte hormone to an endocrine mediator. Eur J Endocrinol 143:293–311

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita T, Murakami T, Otani S, Kuwajima M, Shima K (1998) Leptin receptor signal transduction: OBRa and OBRb of fa type. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 246:752–759

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaspelkis BB 3rd, Ansari L, Ramey EL, Holland GJ, Loy SF (1999) Chronic leptin administration increases insulin-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose uptake and transport. Metabolism 48:671–676

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zamorano PL, Mahesh VB, De Sevilla LM, Chorich LP, Bhat GK, Brann DW (1997) Expression and localization of the leptin receptor in endocrine and neuroendocrine tissues of the rat. Neuroendocrinology 65:223–228

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao AZ, Bornfeldt KE, Beavo JA (1998) Leptin inhibits insulin secretion by activation of phosphodiesterase 3B. J Clin Invest 102:869–873

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work has been financially supported by a grant from Vice Chancellor of Research of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, P. O. Box 7616914111, Kerman, Iran

    Homayoon Babaei

  2. Graduated Student of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

    Sedigheh Sivandi

Authors
  1. Homayoon Babaei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sedigheh Sivandi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Homayoon Babaei.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Babaei, H., Sivandi, S. Caprine cauda epididymal sperm motility pattern in the capacitation medium supplemented with leptin. Comp Clin Pathol 22, 655–660 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1461-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-012-1461-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation