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Short-Chain Fatty Acids Modulate Sperm Migration through Olfactory Receptor 51E2 Activity

Authors :
Emanuela Teveroni
Fiorella Di Nicuolo
Edoardo Vergani
Carmine Bruno
Giuseppe Maulucci
Giada Bianchetti
Anna Laura Astorri
Giuseppe Grande
Jacopo Gervasoni
Lavinia Santucci
Marco De Spirito
Andrea Urbani
Alfredo Pontecorvi
Francesca Mancini
Domenico Milardi
Source :
International Journal of Molecular Sciences; Volume 23; Issue 21; Pages: 12726
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 2022.

Abstract

The non-orthotopic expression of olfactory receptors (ORs) includes the male reproductive system, and in particular spermatozoa; their active ligands could be essential to sperm chemotaxis and chemical sperm–oocyte communication. OR51E2 expression has been previously reported on sperm cells’ surface. It has been demonstrated in different cellular models that olfactory receptor 51E2 (OR51E2) binds volatile short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as specific ligands. In the present research, we make use of Western blot, confocal microscopy colocalization analysis, and the calcium-release assay to demonstrate the activation of sperm cells through OR51E2 upon SCFAs stimulus. Moreover, we perform a novel modified swim-up assay to study the involvement of OR51E2/SCFAs in sperm migration. Taking advantage of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA system), we determine the kinematics parameters of sperm cells migrating towards SCFAs-enriched medium, revealing that these ligands are able to promote a more linear sperm-cell orientation. Finally, we obtain SCFAs by mass spectrometry in cervico-vaginal mucus and show for the first time that a direct incubation between cervical mucus and sperm cells could promote their activation. This study can shed light on the possible function of chemosensory receptors in successful reproduction activity, laying the foundation for the development of new strategies for the treatment of infertile individuals.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14220067
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Molecular Sciences; Volume 23; Issue 21; Pages: 12726
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....5fbc7aa9fd9f312db0128299325702e4
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232112726