Phosphatidylcholine promotes sperm motility by regulating sperm membrane phospholipid homeostasis

The effect of phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine on the maintenance of sperm motility in vitro was investigated. Sperm motility is a key determinant of reproductive efficiency in poultry production, influenced by seminal plasma factors. This study characterized phenotypic distinctions between high- and low-motility sperm from 40-week-old Yufen 1 roosters and elucidated underlying molecular mechanisms. Metabolomics analysis showed that seminal plasma was enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway, phosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylcholine were the main metabolites. The effect of phosphatidylcholine on the maintenance of sperm motility in vitro was tested and verified by sperm co-incubation experiments. Herein, the high-motility group showed significantly higher fertilization capacity when compared to the low-motility sperm (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the removal of seminal plasma impaired motility, while cross-exchange between high- and low-motility groups restored motility (P < 0.05) and marginally improved membrane integrity in low-motility sperm. Metabolomic profiling of seminal plasma revealed the effects of seminal plasma on sperm motility were associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism, lysine degradation, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. Among these pathways, The conversion from phosphatidylcholine to lysophosphatidylcholine, mediated by glycerophosphatidylcholine metabolism, becomes the key mechanistic driver. The content of phosphatidylcholine in seminal plasma significantly affects the motility, membrane integrity, and fertilization characteristics (P < 0.05), respectively. These findings underscore the importance of seminal plasma in sperm motility, as well as that phosphatidylcholine probably serves as a key regulator for sperm properties.