Journal of Andrology
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Published-Ahead-of-Print August 27, 2009, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.109.007583

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Seminal Plasma Proteins as Potential Markers of Relative Fertility in Boars

Susan Novak , Ana Ruiz-Sanchez , Walter T. Dixon , George R. Foxcroft , and Michael K. Dyck *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: michael.dyck{at}ualberta.ca.

This study investigated whether specific proteins from distinct seminal plasma fractions of boars could be related to in vivo fertility. Nine boars with acceptable sperm motility and morphology for use in AI demonstrated major differences in total born and pregnancy rate when low-sperm doses (1.5 billion sperm) were used to breed a minimum of 50 gilts per boar. The two lowest and two highest fertility boars were chosen for evaluation of specific seminal plasma proteins. On four occasions, semen was collected and separated into three fractions based on sperm concentration (Sperm-peak, Sperm-rich and Sperm-free), and the fractions were analyzed for total protein concentration, and abundance of Major Seminal Plasma Glycoprotein (PSP-I), AWN-1 and Osteopontin protein using Western blotting techniques. The concentrations of these seminal plasma proteins as lower in the Sperm-Peak fractions compared to the Sperm-Free fractions (P <0.05). Seminal plasma from the pooled sperm-rich fraction used for artificial insemination was also subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to investigate novel protein markers related to in vivo fertility. Total piglets born (r= -0.76, P = 0.01) and sperm motility at day 7 (r = -0.74, P = 0.037) were again negatively correlated with a 22 kDa protein identified by mass spectrometry as PSP-I. However, Fertility Index and farrowing rate tended to be positively correlated (P < 0.10) with a 25 kDa protein, identified as Glutathione Perioxidase (GPX-5), an antioxidant enzyme which may protect sperm membranes from oxidative damage. These candidate proteins merit further investigation as markers of fertility in boars.


Key words: Epididymis • Reproductive Tract • Semen • Semen Analysis • Sperm






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