The efficacy and functional consequences of interactions between human spermatozoa and seminal fluid extracellular vesicles

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dc.contributor.authorTamessar, C.T.
dc.contributor.authorAnderson, A.L.
dc.contributor.authorBromfield, E.G.
dc.contributor.authorTrigg, N.A.
dc.contributor.authorParameswaran, S.
dc.contributor.authorStanger, S.J.
dc.contributor.authorWeidenhofer, J.
dc.contributor.authorZhang, H.-M.
dc.contributor.authorRobertson, S.A.
dc.contributor.authorSharkey, D.
dc.contributor.authorNixon, B.
dc.contributor.authorSchjenken, J.E.
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractSeminal fluid extracellular vesicles (SFEVs) have previously been shown to interact with spermatozoa and influence their fertilisation capacity. Here, we sought to extend these studies by exploring the functional consequences of SFEV interactions with human spermatozoa. SFEVs were isolated from seminal fluid of normozoospermic donors prior to assessing the kinetics of sperm-SFEV binding in vitro, as well as the effects of these interactions on sperm capacitation, acrosomal exocytosis and motility profile. Biotin-labelled SFEV proteins were transferred primarily to the flagellum of spermatozoa within minutes of co-incubation, although additional foci of SFEV biotinylated proteins also labelled the mid-piece and head domain. Functional analyses of high-quality spermatozoa collected following liquification revealed that SFEVs did not influence sperm motility during incubation at pH 5, yet SFEVs induced subtle increases in total and progressive motility in sperm incubated with SFEVs at pH 7. Additional investigation of sperm motility kinematic parameters revealed that SFEVs significantly decreased beat cross frequency and increased distance straight line, linearity, straightness, straight line velocity, and wobble. SFEVs did not influence sperm capacitation status, or the ability of sperm to undergo acrosomal exocytosis. Functional assessment of both high- and low-quality spermatozoa collected prior to liquification showed limited SFEV influence, with these vesicles inducing only subtle decreases in beat cross frequency in spermatozoa of both groups. These findings raise the prospect that, aside from subtle effects on sperm motility, the encapsulated SFEV cargo may be destined for physiological targets other than the male germline, notably the female reproductive tract.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityCottrell T Tamessar, Amanda L Anderson, Elizabeth G Bromfield, Natalie A Trigg, Shanmathi Parameswaran, Simone J Stanger, Judith Weidenhofer, Hui-Ming Zhang, Sarah A Robertson, David J Sharkey, Brett Nixon, and John E Schjenken
dc.identifier.citationReproduction and Fertility, 2024; 5(4):e230088-1-e230088-20
dc.identifier.doi10.1530/RAF-23-0088
dc.identifier.issn2633-8386
dc.identifier.issn2633-8386
dc.identifier.orcidRobertson, S.A. [0000-0002-9967-0084]
dc.identifier.orcidSharkey, D. [0000-0002-4831-7950]
dc.identifier.orcidSchjenken, J.E. [0000-0001-6293-6160]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/143911
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBioscientifica
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1147932
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/2019934
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1154837
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE210100103
dc.rights© The Authors 2024. Open Access. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1530/raf-23-0088
dc.subjectSeminal fluid extracellular vesicles (SFEVs)
dc.subject.meshSeminal Vesicles
dc.subject.meshSpermatozoa
dc.subject.meshSemen
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshSperm Motility
dc.subject.meshSperm Capacitation
dc.subject.meshAcrosome Reaction
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshExtracellular Vesicles
dc.titleThe efficacy and functional consequences of interactions between human spermatozoa and seminal fluid extracellular vesicles
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished online

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