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. 2025 Jan 4:103:skaf012.
doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf012.

Seminal plasma metabolomics and sperm lipidomics profiles of bull semen with different total progressive motile sperm count

Fanglin Pang  1 , Yuke Sheng  1 , LiuTao Gao  2 , Hossam E Rushdi  3 , Juan J Loor  4 , QuanZhao Tian  2 , Shenhe Liu  1
Affiliations

Seminal plasma metabolomics and sperm lipidomics profiles of bull semen with different total progressive motile sperm count

Fanglin Pang et al. J Anim Sci. .

Abstract

Total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) is a reliable index of fecundity evaluation of bull semen. It is an important determinant of frozen semen yield and conception rate of females artificially inseminated. Seminal plasma metabolites and sperm lipids are closely related to sperm survival and motility, but their relationship with TPMSC is not well known. In the present study, Simmental bulls with higher (H, n = 6) or lower (L, n = 6) TPMSC (P < 0.01) were selected from a cohort of 100 animals aged 2 to 5 yr based on semen quality. Analysis of semen quality and biochemical markers of seminal plasma revealed that H bulls had greater ejaculate volume (P < 0.05), sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity rate (P < 0.01), seminal plasma neutral α-glucosidase (P < 0.05), alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, cortisol and phosphatidylcholine (P < 0.01), and lower sperm malformation rate (P < 0.05) and reactive oxygen species (P < 0.01). Semen metabolites and sperm liposome profiles of H and L groups were compared using LC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 120 differentially abundant metabolites (VIP > 1; P < 0.05) and 59 differentially abundant lipids (VIP > 1; P < 0.05) were identified between H and L groups. Oxidative stress, sperm motility, and sperm plasma membrane integrity were among the enriched biological pathways. Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), up-regulated in H bulls, is associated with energy for sperm motility and maintenance of membrane stability. Thymidineglycol (Tg), levanbiose, thymidine (Thd), and CE (3M5) were down-regulated in H bulls and may have negatively affected sperm motility. Correlation analyses revealed that TPMSC and sperm motility were significantly positively correlated with cADPR, while Tg, Levanbiose, Thd, and CE (3M5) were significantly negatively correlated with TPMSC and sperm motility. Thus, we speculate that these molecules may be exploited as potential biomarkers for non-invasive evaluation of TPMSC in bull semen.

Keywords: fertility; metabolic pathways; seminal plasma metabolites; sperm; sperm lipids.

Plain language summary

Total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) is a reliable index of fecundity evaluation of bull semen. It is an important determinant frozen semen yield and conception rate of females artificially inseminated. Seminal plasma metabolites and sperm lipids are closely related to sperm survival and motility, but their relationship with TPMSC is not well known. In this trial, breeding bulls (n = 6) with the highest (H) and lowest (L) total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) in the semen of Simmental bulls were selected based on semen quality production records. In this study, we investigated seminal plasma biochemical markers associated with TPMSC and observed the effects of seminal plasma metabolites and sperm lipids on TPMSC in bull semen. The results showed that seminal plasma biochemical indices were closely related to TPMSC, and the upregulation of Thymidineglycol (Tg), Thymidine (Thd), Levanbiose, Triacylglycerols (TAGs), and Ceramides (Cers) in semen may have a negative impact on TPMSC. Overall, a low sperm count and weak motility are associated with changes in metabolites and lipid species that could determine fertilization ability.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have not been involved in any personal financial interests or other relationships that have influenced the results or conclusions of this thesis during the writing of this thesis. We confirm that the results and data of this study are objective and unbiased and have not been influenced by any conflict of interest.

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