Biomaterial Database

Catalase and oviductal fluid reverse the decreased motility of bovine sperm in culture medium containing specific amino acids. 1998

S Lapointe, and M A Sirard

Centre de Recherche en Biologie de la Reproduction, Département des Sciences Animales, Université Laval, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.

The motility and velocity of bovine spermatozoa incubated in TCM-199 are reduced in comparison with those incubated in a simpler media made for sperm, such as modified Tyrode (Sp-Talp). Moreover, a previous study showed that oviductal cells conditioned media prevented this decreased motility in TCM-199. Preliminary results lead us to suspect that amino acids in TCM-199 were involved in the reduced survival. Therefore, the current experiment aimed at determining which amino acids were involved and what their mechanism of action involved. Amino acids were added separately in Sp-Talp at the final concentration found in TCM-199. Frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa were washed twice by centrifugation in Sp-Talp and diluted to 25 x 10(6)/ml in the amino acid media. After 6 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C, sperm motility and velocity were recorded. The percentage of motile sperm was significantly lower in the presence of phenylalanine (6%+/-2, P < 0.05) compared with the control (46%+/-2). Sperm velocity (VAP, microm/ second) was lower in the presence of phenylalanine (50+/-4) and tyrosine (89+/-3) compared with the control (119+/-4, P < 0.05). Increased concentrations of the three aromatic amino acids (0, 0.2, 1, five times TCM-199 concentrations) decreased both sperm motility and velocity in a dose-dependent manner. Cysteine and methionine, added at 250 microg/ml, showed a negative effect on sperm motility and/or velocity, as did the three aromatic amino acids. Presence of catalase (0.01 mg/ml) in the amino acid-supplemented Sp-Talp for 6 hours kept sperm motility and velocity at control levels, suggesting that the toxic effect of amino acids acts on sperm by excess hydrogen peroxide production. Because the oviduct contains amino acids, and its role as a reservoir for sperm survival is well known, oviductal fluid was collected and tested. Oviductal fluid reversed the negative effect of amino acids, similar to the action of the catalase. Oviductal fluid also kept the peroxide concentrations of media containing phenylalanine at basal levels (<10 microM) compared with phenylalanine alone (approximately 40 microM). These results suggest the presence of catalase activity in oviductal fluid.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D001826	Body Fluids	Liquid components of living organisms.	Body Fluid,Fluid, Body,Fluids, Body
D002374	Catalase	An oxidoreductase that catalyzes the conversion of HYDROGEN PEROXIDE to water and oxygen. It is present in many animal cells. A deficiency of this enzyme results in ACATALASIA.	Catalase A,Catalase T,Manganese Catalase,Mn Catalase
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D003470	Culture Media	Any liquid or solid preparation made specifically for the growth, storage, or transport of microorganisms or other types of cells. The variety of media that exist allow for the culturing of specific microorganisms and cell types, such as differential media, selective media, test media, and defined media. Solid media consist of liquid media that have been solidified with an agent such as AGAR or GELATIN.	Media, Culture
D005187	Fallopian Tubes	A pair of highly specialized canals extending from the UTERUS to its corresponding OVARY. They provide the means for OVUM transport from the ovaries and they are the site of the ovum's final maturation and FERTILIZATION. The fallopian tube consists of an interstitium, an isthmus, an ampulla, an infundibulum, and fimbriae. Its wall consists of three layers: serous, muscular, and an internal mucosal layer lined with both ciliated and secretory cells.	Oviducts, Mammalian,Salpinges, Uterine,Salpinx, Uterine,Uterine Salpinges,Uterine Salpinx,Fallopian Tube,Uterine Tubes,Mammalian Oviduct,Mammalian Oviducts,Oviduct, Mammalian,Tube, Fallopian,Tube, Uterine,Tubes, Fallopian,Tubes, Uterine,Uterine Tube
D005260	Female		Females
D006861	Hydrogen Peroxide	A strong oxidizing agent used in aqueous solution as a ripening agent, bleach, and topical anti-infective. It is relatively unstable and solutions deteriorate over time unless stabilized by the addition of acetanilide or similar organic materials.	Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2),Hydroperoxide,Oxydol,Perhydrol,Superoxol,Peroxide, Hydrogen
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia