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Group X phospholipase A2 is released during sperm acrosome reaction and controls fertility outcome in mice
Jessica Escoffier, … , Gérard Lambeau, Christophe Arnoult
Jessica Escoffier, … , Gérard Lambeau, Christophe Arnoult
Published April 26, 2010
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2010;120(5):1415-1428. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI40494.
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Research Article

Group X phospholipase A2 is released during sperm acrosome reaction and controls fertility outcome in mice

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Abstract

Ejaculated mammalian sperm must undergo a maturation process called capacitation before they are able to fertilize an egg. Several studies have suggested a role for members of the secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) family in capacitation, acrosome reaction (AR), and fertilization, but the molecular nature of these enzymes and their specific roles have remained elusive. Here, we have demonstrated that mouse group X sPLA2 (mGX) is the major enzyme present in the acrosome of spermatozoa and that it is released in an active form during capacitation through spontaneous AR. mGX-deficient male mice produced smaller litters than wild-type male siblings when crossed with mGX-deficient females. Further analysis revealed that spermatozoa from mGX-deficient mice exhibited lower rates of spontaneous AR and that this was associated with decreased in vitro fertilization (IVF) efficiency due to a drop in the fertilization potential of the sperm and an increased rate of aborted embryos. Treatment of sperm with sPLA2 inhibitors and antibodies specific for mGX blocked spontaneous AR of wild-type sperm and reduced IVF success. Addition of lysophosphatidylcholine, a catalytic product of mGX, overcame these deficiencies. Finally, recombinant mGX triggered AR and improved IVF outcome. Taken together, our results highlight a paracrine role for mGX during capacitation in which the enzyme primes sperm for efficient fertilization and boosts premature AR of a likely phospholipid-damaged sperm subpopulation to eliminate suboptimal sperm from the pool available for fertilization.

Authors

Jessica Escoffier, Ikram Jemel, Akemi Tanemoto, Yoshitaka Taketomi, Christine Payre, Christelle Coatrieux, Hiroyasu Sato, Kei Yamamoto, Seiko Masuda, Karin Pernet-Gallay, Virginie Pierre, Shuntaro Hara, Makoto Murakami, Michel De Waard, Gérard Lambeau, Christophe Arnoult

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Figure 1

Expression of mGX sPLA2 in mouse spermatogenic cells.

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Expression of mGX sPLA2 in mouse spermatogenic cells.
   
(A) Quantitati...
(A) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis shows that mGX mRNA is expressed in the testis, but only minimally in the epididymis. (B) In situ hybridization. Sections of testis from 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were hybridized with antisense and sense probes for mGX. Positive signal for mGX was detected in spermatogenic cells (spermatocytes and spermatids, but not spermatogonia) in the seminiferous tubules. Original magnification, ×200. Scale bar: 100 μm. (C) Immunohistochemistry. Sections of the testis from 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were stained with anti-mGX antibody or control antibody. Intense staining was found in spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules but not in spermatogonia (original magnification, ×200). In magnified views, scattered signals with crescent and elongated shapes were evident in spermatocytes and spermatids, suggesting labeling in the acrosomal area. (D) Spermatozoa from caudae epididymis were stained with anti-mGX antibody or control antibodies. Immunofluorescent signal for mGX sPLA2 was confined to the sperm head. Note that the staining along the tail was nonspecific, since sperm treated with preimmune serum or only secondary antibody were also stained.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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