Characterization of electrical and mechanical activities of rabbit uterus associated with the presence of capacitated and non-capacitated spermatozoa

J.F. Lazcano-Reyes; J.L. Montiel; A. Medrano

doi:10.4995/wrs.2013.1470

Authors

J.F. Lazcano-Reyes National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
J.L. Montiel National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
A. Medrano National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2013.1470

Keywords:

uterus motility and contractility/ uterotubal junction/ uterus tube

Abstract

To investigate the effects capacitated spermatozoa may exert upon motility of the rabbit uterus, both contractility and electrical activity (frequency and intensity) were measured in 3 distinctive uterine segments of anaesthetized does: horn (UH), uterotubal junction (UTJ) and tube (UT) after 1) natural mating, 2) infusion of either seminal plasma or PBS, 3) infusion of either capacitated or non-capacitated spermatozoa. Basal values were: 17.1, 15.7, 16.4 g (contractility, P>0.05); 3.5, 3.5, 3.4 Hz (frequency, P>0.05); 0.49, 0.50, 0.57 μV (intensity, P>0.05) for UH, UTJ, UT, respectively. Seminal plasma caused an increase (P<0.05) in the UH contractility: 26.3 vs. 11.7 (natural mating) and 17.0 g (PBS); it also caused a decrease (P<0.05) in electrical intensity at the UTJ: 0.24 vs. 0.67 (natural mating) and 0.58 μV (PBS). The presence of either capacitated or non-capacitated spermatozoa caused no changes in contractility and electrical frequency in any of the uterine segments. However, there was a change in electrical intensity at UTJ (0.37 vs. 0.57 μV for non-capacitated and capacitated spermatozoa, respectively; P<0.05). There were also differences between segments by treatment: UTJ (0.37) vs. UT (0.59 μV) for non-capacitated; UH (0.46) vs. UT (0.71 μV) for capacitated spermatozoa (P<0.05). In conclusion, use of this experimental model showed that uterine electrical activity was slightly modified by the presence of capacitated spermatozoa.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bourdage R. J., Halbert S. A. 1980. In vivo recording of oviductal contractions in rabbits during the periovulatory period. Am. J. Physiol-Reg. I., 239: R332-R336.

Coons L.W., Johns A. 1982. Effects of ovulation on the conduction and contraction velocities in rabbit oviduct: contrasts between longitudinal and circular muscle. Biol. Reprod., 27: 440-448. doi:10.1095/biolreprod27.2.440

Coy P., García-Vázquez F.A., Visconti P.E., Avilés M. 2012. Roles of the oviduct in mammalian fertilization. Reproduction, 144: 649-660.

doi:10.1530/REP-12-0279

Fanchin R., Ayoubi J.M., Righini C., Olivennes F., Schönauer L.M., Frydman R. 2001. Uterine contractility decreases at the time of blastocyst transfers. Hum. Reprod., 16: 1115-1119. doi:10.1093/humrep/16.6.1115

Fateh El-Bab A.Z., Hassan A., Al-Bashary A., El-Habashy M.A. 1983. Effects of unilateral ovariectomization on the numbers of sperm in the oviducts, uterus and cervix of rabbits. Theriogenology, 19: 527-533. doi:10.1016/0093-691X(83)90173-5

Green C.E., Watson P.F. 2001. Comparison of the capacitationlike state of cooled boar spermatozoa with true capacitation. Reproduction, 122: 889-898. doi:10.1530/rep.0.1220889

Green C.E., Bredl J., Holt W.V., Watson P.F., Fazeli A. 2001. Carbohydrate mediation of boar sperm binding to oviductal epithelial cells in vitro. Reproduction, 122: 305-315. doi:10.1530/rep.0.1220305

Hewitt D.A., England G.C.W. 1998. An investigation of capacitation and the acrosome reaction in dog spermatozoa using a dual fluorescent staining technique. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 51: 321-332. doi:10.1016/S0378-4320(98)00079-7

Holt W.V., Fazeli A. 2010. The oviduct as a complex mediator of mammalian sperm function and selection. Mol. Reprod. Dev., 77: 934-943. doi:10.1002/mrd.21234

Hunter R.H.F. 2008. Sperm release from oviduct epithelial binding is controlled hormonally by peri-ovulatory graafian follicles. Mol. Reprod. Dev., 75: 167-174. doi:10.1002/mrd.20776

Hunter R.H.F., Nichol R., Crabtree S.M. 1980. Transport of spermatozoa in the ewe: timing of the establishment of a functional population in the oviduct. Reprod. Nutr. Dev., 20: 1869-1875. doi:10.1051/rnd:19801013

Katila T. 2007. Uterine contractility. In: Samper J.C., Pycock J.F., Mckinnon A.O. (eds). Current therapy in equine reproduction. Saunders Elsevier, St Louis Missouri, USA, 44-51. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7216-0252-3.50011-4

Katz D.F., Yanagimachi R. 1980. Movement characteristics of hamster spermatozoa within the oviduct. Biol. Reprod., 22: 759-764. doi:10.1095/biolreprod22.4.759

Kawakami E., Kashiwagi C., Hori T., Tsutsui T. 2001. Effects of canine oviduct epithelial cells on movement and capacitation of homologous spermatozoa in vitro. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 68: 121-131. doi:10.1016/S0378-4320(01)00135-X

Miessen K., Sharbati S., Einspanier R., Schoen J. 2011. Modelling the porcine oviduct epithelium: a polarized in vitro system suitable for long-term cultivation. Theriogenology, 76: 900-910. doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.04.021

Muller H.H., Nelsen T.S. 1979. Rabbit oviduct isthmus contraction patterns in estrus and after human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone treatment. Biol. Reprod., 21: 563-574. doi:10.1095/biolreprod21.3.563

Murray S.C., Smith T.T. 1997. Sperm interaction with fallopian tube apical membrane enhances sperm motility and delays capacitation. Fertil. Steril., 68: 351-357. doi:10.1016/S0015-0282(97)81528-2

Parish J.J., Susko-Parish J., Winer M.A., First N.L. 1988. Capacitation of bovine sperm by heparin. Biol. Reprod., 38:1171-1180. doi:10.1095/biolreprod38.5.1171

Ruckebusch Y. 1975. Relationship between the electrical activity of the oviduct and the uterus of the rabbit in vivo. J. Reprod. Fertil., 45: 73-82. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0450073

Ruckebusch Y., Bueno L. 1976. An electromyographic study of uterotubal activity in the ewe. J. Reprod. Fertil., 47: 221-227. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0470221

Scott M.A. 2000. A glimpse at sperm function in vivo: sperm transport and epithelial interaction in the female reproductive tract. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 60: 337-348. doi:10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00130-5

Suarez S.S. 2007. Interactions of spermatozoa with the female reproductive tract: inspiration for assisted reproduction. Reprod. Fertil. Dev., 19: 103-110. doi:10.1071/RD06101

Talo A. 1974. Electric and mechanical activity of the rabbit oviduct in vitro before and after ovulation. Biol. Reprod., 11: 335-345. doi:10.1095/biolreprod11.3.335

Troedsson M.H.T., Wiström A.O.G., Liu I.K.M., Ing M., Pascoe J., Thurmond M. 1993. Registration of myometrial activity using multiple site electromyography in cyclic mares. J. Reprod. Fertil., 99: 299-306. doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0990299

Yao Y.Q., Ho P.C., Yeung W.S. 2000. Human oviductal cells produce a factor(s) that maintains the motility of human spermatozoa in vitro. Fertil. Steril., 73: 479-486. doi:10.1016/S0015-0282(99)00563-4