New insights into transduction pathways that regulate boar sperm function

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Molecular Signaling
• Sperm Physiology

Background:

• Previous reviews detailed Ser/Thr and tyrosine phosphorylation in boar sperm.
• Recent discoveries (<10 years) highlight novel kinase pathways regulating sperm function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recently identified kinase pathways (<10 years) in boar spermatozoa.
• To focus on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a key regulator of boar sperm function.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature (<10 years) on kinase pathways in boar spermatozoa.
• Identification of upstream regulators and signaling pathways for AMPK activation.

Main Results:

• AMPK, identified in 2012, is essential for boar sperm function, including motility, viability, and membrane integrity.
• Cell stress conditions (osmotic, mitochondrial inhibition, Ca(2+) absence) activate AMPK.
• AMPK plays a vital role in sperm preservation for artificial insemination, with peak activity on Day 7 at 17 °C.

Conclusions:

• AMPK is a critical regulator of boar sperm function, essential for fertilization and sperm preservation.
• Understanding AMPK pathways offers potential applications in artificial insemination techniques.
• Glycogen synthase kinase 3 and Src family kinase pathways also regulate sperm function.