Causative mechanisms and functional correlates of MTT reduction in stallion spermatozoa

in Reproduction
Authors:
Ashlee Jade MedicaPriority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environmental, and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

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Zamira GibbPriority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environmental, and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

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Alecia SheridanPriority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environmental, and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

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Natasha HarrisonPriority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environmental, and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

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Robert John AitkenPriority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environmental, and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia

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Correspondence shoud be addressed to R J Aitken; Email: john.aitken@newcastle.edu.au
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-21-0464
Volume/Issue:
Volume 163: Issue 6
Page Range:
341–350
Article Type:
Research Article
Online Publication Date:
22 Apr 2022
Copyright:
© Society for Reproduction and Fertility 2022
Restricted access

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MTT is a commonly used cell vitality probe, due to its ability to form insoluble formazan deposits at cellular locations of intense oxidoreductase activity. Although this response is considered a reflection of mitochondrial redox activity, extra-mitochondrial sites of MTT reduction have been recognized within the spermatozoa of several mammalian species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the major sites and causative mechanisms of MTT reduction in stallion spermatozoa. Our results show that stallion spermatozoa displayed substantial mitochondrial formazan deposition, as well as a single extra-mitochondrial formazan deposit in various locations on the sperm head in approximately 20% of cells. The quality and capacitation status of stallion spermatozoa were positively correlated with the presence of an extra-mitochondrial formazan granule. Additionally, extra-mitochondrial formazan deposition was suppressed by the presence of an NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor (VAS2870; active against NOX2, NOX4 and NOX5), MnTMPyP (SOD mimetic) and zinc (NOX5 inhibitor) suggesting that extra-mitochondrial MTT reduction may be facilitated by NOX-mediated ROS generating activity, conceivably NOX5 or NOX2. When comparing MTT to resazurin, another well-known probe used to detect metabolically active cells, MTT reduction had a higher correlation with sperm concentration and motility parameters (R2= 0.91), than resazurin reduction (R2 = 0.76). We conclude that MTT reduction in stallion spermatozoa follows a species-specific pattern due to a high dependence on oxidative phosphorylation and a degree of NOX activity. As such, MTT reduction is a useful diagnostic tool to assess extra-mitochondrial redox activity, and therefore, the functional qualities of stallion spermatozoa.

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Print ISSN:
1470-1626
Online ISSN:
1741-7899

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