Role of the oviduct environment in sperm storage
type: CreativeWork
description: There is emerging evidence that creatine may be relevant to pre-fertilization events. In this study we sought to identify and localize the creatine transport channel SLC6A8. We performed SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting to detect SLC6A8 in sperm protein lysates and determined that it is present. To further characterize the distribution of SLC6A8 in sperm, we used immunofluorescence. Our findings demonstrated that the creatine transport channel co-localizes in the acrosomal region of the head and is present in the principle piece. Supplementation of capacitating medium with 5 mM creatine doubled (26% motile vs 12% motile) the percentage of sperm that remained motile after 24 hrs of incubation at 39 C. However, creatine supplementation did not increase sperm motility parameters during shorter incubations (0, 4, 8 hrs). Although the creatine transport channel localized to the acrosomal region, 5 mM creatine supplementation had no effect on acrosome stability or the ability of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction when induced by calcium ionophore. In conclusion, while creatine has no immediate effect on sperm motility, it did increase the percentage of motile porcine sperm during extended time periods. After insemination, either by natural mating or artificial insemination, a select number of sperm populate the porcine oviduct. These sperm are stored until the time of ovulation. Sperm storage in the oviduct extends sperm lifespan, maintains their motility, and extends their fertility. This allows for a modest desynchronization of insemination and ovulation. However, the support the oviduct provides the pre-fertilization environment is not well defined. To investigate the oviduct’s genetic regulation of sperm storage we evaluated the transcriptome of the oviduct in two different conditions. Eighteen pre-pubertal gilts were estrus induced and synchronized. The oviducts of 9 animals were collected 12 hrs after displaying signs of estrus and artificially inseminated. The ovid…
abstract: There is emerging evidence that creatine may be relevant to pre-fertilization events. In this study we sought to identify and localize the creatine transport channel SLC6A8. We performed SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting to detect SLC6A8 in sperm protein lysates and determined that it is present. To further characterize the distribution of SLC6A8 in sperm, we used immunofluorescence. Our findings demonstrated that the creatine transport channel co-localizes in the acrosomal region of the head and is present in the principle piece. Supplementation of capacitating medium with 5 mM creatine doubled (26% motile vs 12% motile) the percentage of sperm that remained motile after 24 hrs of incubation at 39 C. However, creatine supplementation did not increase sperm motility parameters during shorter incubations (0, 4, 8 hrs). Although the creatine transport channel localized to the acrosomal region, 5 mM creatine supplementation had no effect on acrosome stability or the ability of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction when induced by calcium ionophore. In conclusion, while creatine has no immediate effect on sperm motility, it did increase the percentage of motile porcine sperm during extended time periods. After insemination, either by natural mating or artificial insemination, a select number of sperm populate the porcine oviduct. These sperm are stored until the time of ovulation. Sperm storage in the oviduct extends sperm lifespan, maintains their motility, and extends their fertility. This allows for a modest desynchronization of insemination and ovulation. However, the support the oviduct provides the pre-fertilization environment is not well defined. To investigate the oviduct’s genetic regulation of sperm storage we evaluated the transcriptome of the oviduct in two different conditions. Eighteen pre-pubertal gilts were estrus induced and synchronized. The oviducts of 9 animals were collected 12 hrs after displaying signs of estrus and artificially inseminated. The ovid…
author: Grub, Lantana Kaliska
language: en
keywords: sperm, oviduct
date published: 2020-10-07T22:44:41Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:48Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108626