Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility?
Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones,...
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doaj-083b3b2d7f8646ecad24bac6e9aeeb5c2021-04-22T23:02:03ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-04-01224368436810.3390/ijms22094368Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility?Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez0Emilio A. Martinez1Juan J. Calvete2Fernando J. Peña Vega3Jordi Roca4Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, SwedenDepartment of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainLaboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., 46010 Valencia, SpainLaboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 10003 Caceres, SpainDepartment of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, SpainSeminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones, proteins and peptides, including cytokines and enzymes, cholesterol, DNA and RNA—the latter often protected within epididymis- or prostate-derived extracellular vesicles. It is beyond question that the SP participates in diverse aspects of sperm function pre-fertilization events. The SP also interacts with the various compartments of the tubular genital tract, triggering changes in gene function that prepares for an eventual successful pregnancy; thus, it ultimately modulates fertility. Despite these concepts, it is imperative to remember that SP-free spermatozoa (epididymal or washed ejaculated) are still fertile, so this review shall focus on the differences between the in vivo roles of the SP following semen deposition in the female and those regarding additions of SP on spermatozoa handled for artificial reproduction, including cryopreservation, from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization. This review attempts, including our own results on model animal species, to critically summarize the current knowledge of the reproductive roles played by SP components, particularly in our own species, which is increasingly affected by infertility. The ultimate goal is to reconcile the delicate balance between the SP molecular concentration and their concerted effects after temporal exposure in vivo. We aim to appraise the functions of the SP components, their relevance as diagnostic biomarkers and their value as eventual additives to refine reproductive strategies, including biotechnologies, in livestock models and humans.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4368epididymisaccessory sexual glandsejaculateseminal fluidproteomecytokines |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Emilio A. Martinez Juan J. Calvete Fernando J. Peña Vega Jordi Roca |
spellingShingle |
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Emilio A. Martinez Juan J. Calvete Fernando J. Peña Vega Jordi Roca Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? International Journal of Molecular Sciences epididymis accessory sexual glands ejaculate seminal fluid proteome cytokines |
author_facet |
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez Emilio A. Martinez Juan J. Calvete Fernando J. Peña Vega Jordi Roca |
author_sort |
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez |
title |
Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? |
title_short |
Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? |
title_full |
Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? |
title_fullStr |
Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? |
title_sort |
seminal plasma: relevant for fertility? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
issn |
1661-6596 1422-0067 |
publishDate |
2021-04-01 |
description |
Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones, proteins and peptides, including cytokines and enzymes, cholesterol, DNA and RNA—the latter often protected within epididymis- or prostate-derived extracellular vesicles. It is beyond question that the SP participates in diverse aspects of sperm function pre-fertilization events. The SP also interacts with the various compartments of the tubular genital tract, triggering changes in gene function that prepares for an eventual successful pregnancy; thus, it ultimately modulates fertility. Despite these concepts, it is imperative to remember that SP-free spermatozoa (epididymal or washed ejaculated) are still fertile, so this review shall focus on the differences between the in vivo roles of the SP following semen deposition in the female and those regarding additions of SP on spermatozoa handled for artificial reproduction, including cryopreservation, from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization. This review attempts, including our own results on model animal species, to critically summarize the current knowledge of the reproductive roles played by SP components, particularly in our own species, which is increasingly affected by infertility. The ultimate goal is to reconcile the delicate balance between the SP molecular concentration and their concerted effects after temporal exposure in vivo. We aim to appraise the functions of the SP components, their relevance as diagnostic biomarkers and their value as eventual additives to refine reproductive strategies, including biotechnologies, in livestock models and humans. |
topic |
epididymis accessory sexual glands ejaculate seminal fluid proteome cytokines |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/9/4368 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT heribertorodriguezmartinez seminalplasmarelevantforfertility AT emilioamartinez seminalplasmarelevantforfertility AT juanjcalvete seminalplasmarelevantforfertility AT fernandojpenavega seminalplasmarelevantforfertility AT jordiroca seminalplasmarelevantforfertility |
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1721513851566948352 |