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Melatonin affects red deer spermatozoa motility and physiology in capacitating and non‐capacitating conditions
Author(s) -
FernándezAlegre Estela,
Lacalle Estíbaliz,
SorianoÚbeda Cristina,
Carlos Domínguez Juan,
Casao Adriana,
MartínezPastor Felipe
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.14137
Subject(s) - melatonin , motility , sperm , biology , sperm motility , endocrinology , medicine , andrology , microbiology and biotechnology , botany
Melatonin affects sperm physiology, possibly through membrane receptors. Effects were tested at low concentrations (1 pM, 100 pM, 10 nM and 1 µM) in red deer epididymal spermatozoa as a model for high‐seasonality species. Samples were incubated with melatonin as uncapacitated or capacitating conditions (heparin) and evaluated for motility and physiology (flow cytometry). Most effects occurred at low concentrations (nM‐pM), mainly protecting from apoptosis and maintaining acrosomal integrity, suggesting a role for membrane receptors rather than a direct antioxidant effect. Intracellular calcium was not affected, differing from other studies and perhaps because of the epididymal origin. This study supports the relevance of melatonin on sperm physiology and could contribute to the application of reproductive technologies in wild ruminants.