Effect of recombinant and native buffalo OVGP1 on sperm functions and in vitro embryo development: a comparative study

摘要

Background:An oviduct-specific glycoprotein,OVGP1,is synthesized and secreted by non-ciliated epithelial cells of the mammalian oviduct which provides an essential milieu for reproductive functions.The present study reports the effects of recombinant buffalo OVGP1 that lacks post-translational modifications,and native Buffalo OVGP1 isolated from oviductal tissue,on frozen-thawed sperm functions and in vitro embryo development.Results:The proportion of viable sperms was greater (P ＜ 0.05) in the recombinant OVGP1-treated group compared to the native OVGP1-treated group at 2 h,3 h,and 4 h of incubation.The proportion of motile sperms at 3 h and 4 h of incubation;and membrane-intact sperms at 4 h was greater (P ＜ 0.05) in the native OVGP1-treated group compared to the control and recombinant OVGP1-treated groups.The proportion of capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperms was greater (P ＜ 0.05) in the native OVGP1-treated group compared to the recombinant OVGP1 group at 4 h.The rates of cleavage of embryos and their development to the blastocyst stage were greater (P ＜ 0.05) in the presence of either native or recombinant OVGP1 in comparison to control at 10 μg/mL concentration as compared to 5 or 20 μg/mL.Conclusions:The study suggests that both native and recombinant OVGP1 impart a positive effect on various sperm features and in vitro embryo development.However,native OVGP1 was found to have a more pronounced effect in comparison to recombinant non-glycosylated OVGP1 on various sperm functions except viability.Hence,our current findings infer that glycosylation of OVGP1 might be essential in sustaining the sperm functions but not the in vitro embryo development.