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BOR - Papers in Press, published online ahead of print April 11, 2007.
Biol Reprod 2007, 10.1095/biolreprod.106.058248
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Submitted October 21, 2006
Returned for revision December 22, 2006
Accepted April 6, 2007

Reproductive Technology


Milk Caseins Decrease the Binding of the Major Bovine Seminal Plasma Proteins to Sperm and Prevent Lipid Loss from the Sperm Membrane During Sperm Storage

Annick Bergeron , Yves Brindle , Patrick Blondin , and Puttaswamy Manjunath *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: puttaswamy.manjunath{at}umontreal.ca.

Abstract
Milk is used as a media for sperm preservation. Caseins, the major proteins of milk, appear to be responsible for the protective effect of milk on sperm. Recently, we showed that egg yolk, another component widely included in media used to preserve semen, protects sperm functions by preventing the binding of the major proteins of bull seminal plasma (BSP proteins) to sperm, thus preventing the BSP protein-mediated stimulation of lipid loss from the sperm membrane. In the present study, we verified whether milk caseins protect sperm in the same manner as egg yolk. Bovine ejaculates were diluted with skimmed milk, permeate (skimmed milk devoid of caseins) or permeate supplemented with caseins and stored at 4°C for 4 h. In semen diluted with permeate, sperm viability and motility decreased in a time-dependent manner. However, in semen diluted with milk or permeate supplemented with caseins, sperm functions were maintained. In addition, less BSP proteins were associated with sperm in semen diluted with milk or permeate supplemented with caseins as compared to semen diluted with permeate. No milk proteins were detected in sperm protein extracts. Furthermore, sperm diluted with milk or permeate supplemented with caseins lost 3 times less of their cholesterol and choline phospholipids as compared to sperm diluted with permeate during storage. Thus, caseins from milk decreased the binding of BSP proteins to sperm and sperm lipid loss while maintaining sperm motility and viability during storage. These results support our view that milk caseins prevent the detrimental effect of BSP proteins on the sperm membrane during sperm preservation.

Key words: Gamete Biology • Male Reproductive Tract • Acrosome reaction • Sperm • Sperm motility and transport


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T. Takeo, T. Hoshii, Y. Kondo, H. Toyodome, H. Arima, K.-i. Yamamura, T. Irie, and N. Nakagata
Methyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin Improves Fertilizing Ability of C57BL/6 Mouse Sperm after Freezing and Thawing by Facilitating Cholesterol Efflux from the Cells
Biol Reprod, March 1, 2008; 78(3): 546 - 551.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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