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The relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number and stallion sperm function.

Christa R Darr1, Luis E Moraes2, Richard E Connon1

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Dr., Veterinary Medicine 3B, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Theriogenology
|April 15, 2017
PubMed
Summary

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Increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in stallion sperm is linked to reduced motility. This finding suggests mtDNA copy number may indicate issues in sperm development, impacting fertility in horses.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Animal Science
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is a potential biomarker for sperm quality and fertility in various species.
  • Previous research suggested mtDNA copy number as a fertility biomarker in stallion sperm.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between mtDNA copy number and sperm quality in American Quarter Horse stallions of varying ages.
  • To determine the copy number of three mitochondrial genes (CYTB, ND1, ND4) for a comprehensive understanding of mtDNA fate during spermatogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Sperm samples were collected from 37 stallions (3-24 years old).
  • Analysis included sperm motion characteristics, nuclear DNA denaturability, and mtDNA copy number using real-time qPCR.
  • mtDNA copy number was normalized against a single-copy nuclear gene (Beta actin).
Keywords:
Mitochondrial DNAMotilitySpermStallion

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Main Results:

  • Total sperm motility was negatively correlated with CYTB copy number and sperm chromatin structure.
  • Stallion age did not significantly affect mtDNA copy number for any of the genes studied.
  • Significant differences in copy number were observed among CYTB, ND4, and ND1 genes, with CYTB having the highest copy number.

Conclusions:

  • Increased mtDNA copy number, particularly of CYTB, is associated with decreased total sperm motility in stallions.
  • The findings suggest that mtDNA copy number may serve as an indicator of defective spermatogenesis in stallions.
  • Further research, including genome sequencing, is needed to explore mutations or deletions causing inconsistent mtDNA copy numbers.