Incubation of human sperm with micelles made from glycerophospholipid mixtures increases sperm motility and resistance to oxidative stress

• Published in: PloS one 2018-06, Vol.13 (6), p.e0197897-e0197897
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Gonzalo, Costa, Carlos, Bassaizteguy, Verónica, Santos, Marcelo, Cardozo, Romina, Montes, José, Settineri, Robert, Nicolson, Garth L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis; Biology and Life Sciences; Cell Membrane - drug effects; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Chemistry; Confocal microscopy; Culture Techniques; Dyes; Fatty acids; Fertility; Fertility Agents, Male - chemistry; Fertility Agents, Male - pharmacology; Fertilization; Flow cytometry; Fluorescence; Fluorescent dyes; Fluorescent indicators; Genetic aspects; Glycerophospholipids - chemistry; Glycerophospholipids - metabolism; Glycerophospholipids - pharmacology; Health aspects; Humans; Hydrogen peroxide; Incubation; Infertility; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Localization; Male; Membrane lipids; Membrane potential; Membranes; Micelles; Microscopy; Mitochondria; Motility; Oxidation resistance; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidizing agents; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Properties; Rhodamine; Sperm; Sperm motility; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - cytology; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - metabolism; Viability
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197897

Membrane integrity is essential in maintaining sperm viability, signaling, and motility, which are essential for fertilization. Sperm are highly susceptible to oxidative stress, as they are rich in sensitive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and are unable to synthesize and repair many essential membrane constituents. Because of this, sperm cellular membranes are important targets of this process. Membrane Lipid Replacement (MLR) with glycerophospholipid mixtures (GPL) has been shown to ameliorate oxidative stress in cells, restore their cellular membranes, and prevent loss of function. Therefore, we tested the effects of MLR on sperm by tracking and monitoring GPL incorporation into their membrane systems and studying their effects on sperm motility and viability under different experimental conditions. Incubation of sperm with mixtures of exogenous, unoxidized GPL results in their incorporation into sperm membranes, as shown by the use of fluorescent dyes attached to GPL. The percent overall (total) sperm motility was increased from 52±2.5% to 68±1.34% after adding GPL to the incubation media, and overall sperm motility was recovered from 7±2% after H2O2 treatment to 58±2.5%)(n = 8, p