Effect of Swine (Sus scrofa) Sperm Capacitation In vitro and Acrosome Reaction on Expression of Spermadhesins Gene and Seminal Plasma Motility Inhibitor (SPMI) mRNA
Abstract：To analyze the association between mRNA expression levels of Spermadhesins gene (AQN1, AQN3, AWN, PSPⅠand PSPⅡ) and sperm motility inhibitor gene (SPMI) in ejaculated sperm with sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction status, swine (Sus scrofa) sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction status were induced in vitro. The expression levels of Spermadhesins and SPMI genes in sperms were analyzed by semiquantitative RT-PCR (sqRT-PCR). The results showed that the percentage of sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction was 58.41% and 35.34%, respectively. Most Spermadhesins mRNA expression levels were increased with capacitation time prolonged. AQN1 and PSPⅡ mRNA levels were increased a little with capacitation for 4 h, while significantly increased with capacitation for 8 h (P＜0.05). The difference between 4 and 8 h was not significant (P＞0.05). AQN3 and PSPⅠmRNA level demonstrated the similar expression rythme, with no significant change at 4 h capacitation or significant higher at 8 h capacitation than 4 h and control. AWN mRNA level was decreased with capacitation time prolonged, but the difference was not significant (P＞0.05). SPMI mRNA level was decreased at 4 h capacitation and increased at 8 h capacitation, but no obvious rythme with no significant difference among groups (P＞0.05). AQN1, AQN3, PSPⅠ, PSPⅡ and SPMI mRNA level were all increased after acrosome reaction induced by progesterone ( P4) except AWN, among which PSPⅠand PSPⅡ were increased significantly (P＜0.05), and AWN was decreased significantly (P＜0.05). The results showed that Spermadhesins might play a positive control on sperm capacitation, or take part in the interaction of oocytes and sperms. SPMI gene might not work on sperm acrosome reaction and capacitation. This study will be helpful greatly to further research the mechanism of sperm action, capacitation and acrosome reaction.
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