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. 2013 Winter;4(1):7–12.

The in vitro effect of leptin on semen quality of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls

Amir Khaki 1,*, Rooz Ali Batavani 1, Gholamreza Najafi 2
PMCID: PMC4293890  PMID: 25593679

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the probable effects of leptin addition in different levels to the semen extender on sperm quality (motility and motility parameters, viability, sperm membrane integrity, and DNA damage). Semen specimens were evaluated immediately after leptin addition, equilibration time and after thawing the frozen semen. Five healthy buffalo bulls (5 ejaculates from each bull) were used. Each ejaculate was diluted at 37 ˚C with tris-based extender containing 0 (control), 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 ng mL-1 leptin. The diluted semen was kept 4 hr in refrigerator to reach to the equilibration time and then packed in 0.5 mL French straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Our results showed that, in the fresh semen, no significant difference was observed in all sperm quality parameters evaluated among all of the examined leptin concentrations. Addition of 10 ng mL-1 leptin into semen extender significantly preserved sperm motility, all of the motility parameters, and viability in equilibrated semen compared to that of control group. However, in vitro addition of 200 ng mL-1 leptin, significantly decreased theses parameters. In the frozen thawed semen, all leptin concentrations decreased sperm motility and viability, but significant decrease was observed in concentrations of 100 and 200 ng mL-1. Adding leptin to semen extender did not have any significant influence on sperm DNA damage and sperm membrane integrity in all examined groups. These findings suggest that in vitro addition of 10 ng mL-1 leptin could preserve sperm motility and viability in cooled semen of buffaloes.

Key Words: Buffalo, Leptin, Semen, Sperm quality

Introduction

Leptin is a 16 kDa adipokine, a pleiotropic cytokine-like hormone that primarily is secreted from adipose tissue, involved in regulation of energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine function, immunity, lipid and glucose homeostasis, fatty acid oxidation, angiogenesis, puberty and reproduction.1-5 Leptin plays a major role in regulation of energy balance by reducing food intake and increasing energy expenditure.6 Major role of leptin to control reproductive function is now firmly established.7,8 The ob/ob mice (lacking functional leptin-carrying homozygous mutation disrupting leptin gene) or OB-R/OB-R mice (lacking functional leptin receptor) are infertile and fail to undergo normal sexual maturation. Fertility of ob/ob mice is restored by leptin administration, indicating an effect of the hormone per se on reproduction.9,10 In leptin-deficient mice and humans which are in a permanent pre-pubertal state, leptin therapy alone is sufficient for resumption and completion of sexual development.10-12

In contrast to its well proven effects on female fertility, actual role of the hormone in regulatory network controlling male reproduction is not well known. Presence of leptin receptor on spermatic cells and Leydig cells suggested that leptin may play a direct regulatory role in male at level of the gonad.13 It was hypothesized that the net effect of leptin upon male reproductive function may depend on the circulating level of leptin.8 Several studies support role of leptin in regulation of gonadal functions in men14 indirectly via the central neuroendocrine system and directly via peripheral tissue membrane receptors.15,16 Some studies have indicated both positive and negative effects of leptin on gonads.8,17 Leptin was demonstrated to stimulate gonadotrophin releasing hormone secretion with indirect effects on the gonads via neuropeptide Y and its effect on testosterone secretion.18 Systemic administration of leptin or its active fragment, leptin116–130 amide, elicited FSH and LH secretion in male mice and rats, respectively.19,20 Central administration of leptin stimulated pituitary LH secretion in matured fasted cows.21 It is tempting to speculate that leptin has a negative influence on spermatogenesis due to the down-regulation of testicular testosterone production in humans, as others have demonstrated an inhibition of testosterone secretion by leptin in vitro in rat testis.15 Moreover, Von sobbe et al. suggested that dysfunction of testicular epithelia as found in hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism and high-grade oligozoospermia with decreased testosterone levels caused elevated semen leptin concentrations.22 On the other hand, it was reported that leptin may affect the secretion of inhibin B or may even be involved in the regulation of function of Sertoli cells, because there is a negative relation between leptin levels and the levels of inhibin B, which is secreted by Sertoli cells.23 Furthermore, Fombonne et al. reported that leptin inhibits of pre-pubertal Leydig cells in vitro.24

Leptin receptor was found to be present in spermatozoa more likely on acrosome, subequatorial area and either on the midpiece or on the whole tail of sperm.25 Regarding the fact that leptin receptor is expressed in tail of spermatozoa, a region which contributes mainly to sperm motility, the role of leptin in sperm motility is crucial.26 Jope et al. suggested that leptin might directly affect sperm via the endocrine system in the hypothalamus pituitary gonad axis, independently.27

For the first time Aquila et al. stated that Leptin was expressed in human spermatozoa.28 Thereafter, presence of leptin and its receptor was confirmed on boar and bull spermatozoa.29,30 They acclaimed that spermatozoa could secrete leptin and their discovery opened a new window in reproductive biology researches. However, some investigators do not agree this hypothesis.31 Reportedly, they suggested that the leptin mRNA in ejaculated spermatozoa could be remnant transcribed gene product from earlier spermatogenic stages27 or may be related to contamination by other cells in semen.32

There is little information about role of leptin in reproductive performance of farm animals, especially in buffalo bulls’ semen quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the probable effects of in vitro addition of different leptin concentrations into the buffalo bulls’ semen extender on sperm motility and motility parameters [curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), path velocity (VAP), lateral displacement (ALH), beat cross frequency (BCF), and linearity (LIN)], viability, sperm membrane integrity, and DNA damage.

Materials and Methods

Animals. Twenty five semen samples were collected using a bovine artificial vagina from 5 sexually matured buffalo bulls, aged 2-4 years old, kept in the Buffalo Breeding Center, northwest of Iran, Urmia (37° 33 ´ N, 45° 4´ E). Semen sampling was achieved during the autumn (2011) and winter (2012). First mount ejaculated semen was collected weekly intervals, at 9-11 am. However, in the case of poor semen quality, the second mount ejaculate was taken. The semen samples which had 4-5 gross motility score at 100× magnification (0 = cell present without motility; 5 = very rapid dark swirls) were chosen for experiment.

Semen preparation. Each ejaculate was divided into 6 portions and diluted at 37 ˚C with tris-based extender (tris 2.660 g, glucose 1.200 g, citric acid 1.390 g, cysteine 0.139 g, doubled distilled water up to 100 mL) containing 0 (control), 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 ng mL-1 leptin (Sigma Aldrich Co., St. Louis, MO, USA). Then, semen samples (6 portions per ejaculate) were stored in 4 ˚C for 4 hr on equilibration chamber. Finally, the semen was packed in 0.5 mL French straws and frozen using method of Rasul et al. in liquid nitrogen and stored till analysis.33

Sperm quality assessment. The sperm motility and viability were assessed in equilibrated semen and frozen-thawed semen in 37 ˚C water bath for 40 sec.34 Sperm motility and its parameters was estimated using a computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) (Version 6, HFT CASA, Hoshmand Fannavar, Amirkabir Medical Engineering Co., Tehran, Iran) with a warmed microscope stage at 37 ˚C on a pre-warmed slide. A total number of 200 spermatozoa were analyzed in several microscopic fields in each specimen. Viability of spermatozoa was estimated using eosin-nigrosin staining method35 by observing 200 spermatozoa in light microscopic fields (Model BX41, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

Based on Katayose et al. DNA damage was detected employing Acridine orange staining technique.36 In brief, medium-thick smears of sperm on the glass slides were air dried, fixed for 2 hr in freshly prepared Carnoy’s solution (methanol ⁄ glacial acetic acid), air dried again, and stained with acidic work solution containing 19% Acridine orange [3, 6-bis (dimethylamino) acridine, hemi (zinc chloride) salt, Sigma Aldrich Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO, USA]. All slides were examined on a fluorescence microscope (Model GS7, Nikon Co., Tokyo, Japan). A total of 200 cells were counted on each slide and classified by type as green or red based on differences in their fluorescent color (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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Acridine orange staining for detecting DNA damage of spermatozoa; a) spermatozoid with normal DNA, b) spermatozoid with damaged DNA

Sperm membrane integrity assessed by the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), as described by Jeyendran et al.37 In brief, the hypo-osmotic solution with osmotic pressure = 150 mOsmol kg-1 (Osmomat 030; Gonotec, Berlin, Germany) was prepared by dissolving 0.73 g sodium citrate and1.35 g fructose in 100 ml of distilled water. Hypo-osmotic solution (500 µL) was mixed with 50 µL of semen and incubated at 37 ˚C for 40 min. After incubation, a drop of semen sample was examined and 200 spermatozoa were counted in at least 5 different fields for their swelling characterized by coiled tail indicating intact plasma membrane.

Results

Equilibrated semen. Addition of 10 ng mL-1 leptin to semen extender preserved significantly sperm motility, VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH, BCF, LIN, and viability compared with control group and other leptin concentrations in diluted equilibrated semen (p ≤ 0.05). Conversely, addition of 200 ng mL-1 leptin to semen extender decreased significantly sperm motility, VCL, VSL, VAP, ALH, BCF, LIN, and viability compared with control group (p ≤ 0.05). The number of fragmented DNA cells in all groups was not statistically different from control group (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1.

Effect of different leptin concentrations on sperm motility parameters (Mean ± SEM) in fresh, equilibrated and frozen thawed semen

Leptin concentration
(ng mL -1 ) 		Progressive motility (%) VCL
(µm sec −1 ) 		VSL
(µm sec −1 ) 		VAP
(µm sec −1 ) 		ALH
(µm) 		BCF
(Hz) 		LIN
(%)
Fresh
0 83.80 ± 0.90 a 54.20 ± 1.00 a 30.20 ± 0.60 a 34.60 ± 0.60 a 2.0 0 ± 0.04 a 6.30 ± 0.10 a 50.70 ± 0.70 a
10 84.10 ± 0.80 a 54.50 ± 0.90 a 30.60 ± 0.60 a 34.80 ± 0.60 a 2.00 ± 0.03 a 6.20 ± 0.10 a 50.80 ± 0.80 a
20 83.30 ± 1.00 a 53.30 ± 1.20 a 30.20 ± 0.70 a 34.20 ± 0.80 a 2.00 ± 0.05 a 6.10 ± 0.10 a 50.80 ± 0.90 a
50 83.20 ± 1.10 a 53.10 ± 1.30 a 30.30 ± 0.70 a 34.20 ± 0.80 a 2.00 ± 0.05 a 6.20 ± 0.10 a 51.40 ± 0.80 a
100 83.20 ± 1.10 a 53.30 ± 1.20 a 30.10 ± 0.80 a 34.10 ± 0.80 a 2.00 ± 0.04 a 6.10 ± 0.10 a 50.40 ± 1.00 a
200 82.50 ± 1.50 a 52.00 ± 1.70 a 30.20 ± 0.90 a 33.80 ± 1.00 a 1.90 ± 0.06 a 6.20 ± 0.10 a 51.60 ± 1.00 a
Equilibrated
0 69.00 ± 2.00 b 38.60 ± 2.20 b 22.30 ± 1.00 b 25.30 ± 1.30 b 1.50 ± 0.07 b 5.20 ± 0.10 b 42.10 ± 1.30 b
10 77.30 ± 2.10 a 46.90 ± 2.00 a 27.00 ± 1.20 a 30.00 ± 1.40 a 1.70 ± 0.07 a 5.80 ± 0.10 a 46.40 ± 1.60 a
20 68.40 ± 2.10 b 38.40 ± 1.90 b 22.10 ± 1.10 b 24.60 ± 1.30 bc 1.40 ± 0.06 b 5.10 ± 0.10 b 41.80 ± 1.40 b
50 66.10 ± 1.80 b 36.00 ± 1.80 b 21.00 ± 0.90 b 23.40 ± 1.00 bc 1.40 ± 0.06 b 5.00 ± 0.10 b 39.90 ± 1.20 b
100 63.20 ± 1.90 b 34.50 ± 1.80 b 19.40 ± 1.00 b 21.50 ± 1.10 c 1.30 ± 0.05 b 4.90 ± 0.10 b 37.90 ± 1.30 bc
200 56.00 ± 1.30 c 27.60 ± 1.90 c 15.70 ± 0.70 c 17.70 ± 0.70 d 1.10 ± 0.03 c 4.40 ± 0.10 c 35.50 ± 1.30 c
Frozen thawed
0 40.70 ± 1.80 a 18.80 ± 1.00 a 10.30 ± 0.60 a 11.90 ± 0.60 a 0.70 ± 0.05 a 3.00 ± 0.10 a 24.40 ± 1.10 a
10 40.30 ± 1.50 a 19.30 ± 1.00 a 10.50 ± 0.50 a 12.10 ± 0.60 a 0.70 ± 0.04 a 3.00 ± 0.10 a 24.00 ± 0.09 a
20 39.20 ± 1.70 a 17.60 ± 0.90 a 9.60 ± 0.60 a 11.20 ± 0.60 a 0.70 ± 0.04 a 2.80 ± 0.10 a 23.70 ± 1.00 a
50 37.20 ± 1.20 ab 17.20 ± 0.70 a 9.40 ± 0.50 ab 10.90 ± 0.50 ab 0.70 ± 0.03 ab 2.70 ± 0.10 ab 22.20 ± 0.70 ab
100 32.60 ± 2.10 bc 13.60 ± 0.90 b 7.80 ± 0.70 bc 9.30 ± 0.70 bc 0.50 ± 0.05 bc 2.20 ± 0.20 bc 19.70 ± 1.20 bc
200 28.30 ± 1.90 c 12.20 ± 0.90 b 6.40 ± 0.60 c 7.70 ± 0.60 c 0.40 ± 0.04 c 1.80 ± 0.10 c 17.20 ± 1.20 c
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a,b,c

Superscript letters represents a significant difference (p < 0.05) within columns.

Table 2.

Effect of different leptin concentrations on sperm viability, DNA damage, and membrane integrity (Mean ± SEM) in fresh, equilibrated and frozen thawed semen

Leptin concentration (ng mL -1 ) Viability
(%) 		DNA damage
(%) 		HOST
(%)
Fresh
0 87.00 ± 0.70 a 1.80 ± 0.10 a 88.80 ± 0.90 a
10 87.80 ± 0.70 a 1.70 ± 0.10 a 88.10 ± 1.80 a
20 86.90 ± 0.90 a 1.80 ± 0.10 a 86.10 ± 1.20 a
50 86.80 ± 0.60 a 1.80 ± 0.10 a 87.50 ± 1.50 a
100 86.40 ± 0.80 a 1.80 ± 0.10 a 86.20 ± 1.10 a
200 85.50 ± 0.80 a 1.90 ± 0.10 a 85.20 ± 1.00 a
Equilibrated
0 77.90 ± 1.50 b 3.30 ± 0.20 ab 77.50 ± 1.30 a
10 85.40 ± 1.30 a 3.00 ± 0.20 b 81.20 ± 1.00 a
20 76.10 ± 1.60 b 3.80 ± 0.30 ab 80.50 ± 1.30 a
50 74.60 ± 1.60 b 3.00 ± 0.20 b 79.10 ± 1.50 a
100 73.50 ± 1.60 bc 4.10 ± 0.30 a 79.50 ± 1.20 a
200 69.50 ± 1.70 c 4.10 ± 0.20 a 76.00 ± 1.50 a
Frozen thawed
0 60.80 ± 1.40 a 11.00 ± 0.30 a 58.40 ± 1.50 a
10 60.50 ± 1.80 a 10.50 ± 0.40 a 60.50 ± 1.00 a
20 58.70 ± 1.40 a 10.90 ± 0.30 a 60.20 ± 1.60 a
50 57.30 ± 1.60 ab 11.20 ± 0.30 a 57.30 ± 1.20 a
100 52.50 ± 1.90 bc 11.70 ± 0.20 a 58.50 ± 1.10 a
200 50.40 ± 1.80 c 11.90 ± 0.30 a 56.20 ± 1.30 a
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a,b,c

Superscript letters represents a significant difference (p < 0.05) within columns in each tables.

Frozen-thawed semen. The highest sperm motility (40.7 ± 1.8%) and viability (60.8 ± 1.4%) were observed in frozen-thawed semen in control group. Indeed, addition of leptin to semen extender decreased sperm motility and viability in all experimental groups and significant decrease were observed with addition of 100 and 200 ng mL-1 leptin compared with those of the base extender (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among all groups in the number of fragmented DNA sperm cells in frozen thawed semen (Tables 1 and 2).

Discussion

One of the most important goals in any buffalo farm is achieving high reproductive rates to accelerate genetic improvement, which could be performed using artificial reproduction tools. During the past decade remarkable achievements have been made in the field of buffalo assisted reproduction. In commercial livestock breeding, artificial insemination plays a major role in terms of health and economic production. Therefore, the most important challenge is availability of high quality semen from a progeny tested bull.

Although the normal values of leptin have positive effects on male reproductive activity, excess levels of leptin resulting from increased secretion from adipose tissue are known to have a deleterious effect on sperm production and secretion of androgens by Leydig cells.38,39 Given that the levels of leptin in both serum and seminal plasma are significantly raised in non-obstructive azoospermic, astheno-zoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic patients than those of normozoospermic fertile patients, it has been proposed that the increased serum leptin might directly affect testicular function to reverse spermatogenic dysfunction.14,22,31,40

It has been reported that there is a negative correlation in leptin levels among seminal plasma, sperm concentration and motility parameters.31,41-43 However, some investigators found no correlation between seminal plasma leptin and physical characteristics of semen samples.26,38,40,44 But, Lampiao and du Plessis suggested that in vitro leptin significantly increased total motility, progressive motility and acrosome reaction as well as nitric oxide production in human spermatozoa.45

Since there are controversial reports about effect of leptin on semen parameters in human and some laboratory animals, the present study was conducted to add different concentrations of the hormone into the buffalo semen extender to evaluate in vitro effect of leptin on water buffaloes sperm motility, viability, and DNA damage in equilibrated and frozen thawed semen. Our findings showed that addition of 10 ng mL-1 leptin into semen extender in equilibrated semen preserved sperm motility, motility parameters such as VCL VSL, VAP, ALH, BCF, LIN, and viability compared to those of the control group. This result is in agreement with the study of Lampiao and du Plessis which showed that in vitro leptin had beneficial effects on human sperm function and concluded that the hormone could play a role in enhancing the fertilization capacity of human spermatozoa via increasing motility and acrosome reaction.45 Moreover, jorsaraei et al. reported that administration of 30 ng mL-1 leptin has a positive but not significant effect on human sperm motility after 4 hr incubation.46

Our findings showed that leptin decreased quality of frozen thawed semen. Li et al. found no significant difference in all the CASA motility parameters determined and percentages of capacitated and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa in seminal plasma concentration of leptin in human ejaculated semen.26 However, Aquila et al. reported that when washed pooled human sperm from normal samples were treated with leptin and incubated under uncapacitating condition, both cholesterol efflux and protein tyrosine phosphorylation were increased and they hypo-thesized an action of leptin in modulating sperm energetic substrate availability during capacitation.28 In addition, Aquila et al. also showed similar findings in leptin-treated pig spermatozoa.47 Additionally, Aquila et al. demonstrated that sperm could secret leptin and suggested that sperm had ability to modulate its metabolism based on its energy needs independent of systemic leptin expression.28 This may represent a protective mechanism in male reproduction to guarantee the accumulation of energy substrates to maintain the gamete fertilizing capability.28,48

Regarding these findings we can deduce when we add leptin in vitro to the semen extender, capacitation process may be occurred in spermatozoa in equilibration or even earlier; and when the semen is frozen thawed, performance of the spermatozoa may be reduced.

Since leptin has no effect on sperm DNA damage in both equilibrated and frozen thawed semen, we could suggest that there is no correlation between in vitro addition of leptin in semen extender and fragmented DNA in buffalo bull sperm.

In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that in vitro addition of 10 ng mL-1 leptin to semen extender preserved sperm motility and viability in equilibrated semen compared to those of the control group which can be helpful for insemination of cooled fresh semen collected from buffalo bulls suffering from decreased sperm motility. However, all concentrations of leptin decreased these parameters in frozen thawed semen which could be due to the effect of leptin on capacitation and hyper-activation of sperm in equilibrated semen which consequently decreased spermatozoa viability and motility in frozen thawed semen in water buffalo bulls. We found no correlation between in vitro leptin and buffalo bulls’ sperm fragmented DNA. Beside the in vitro effect of leptin on semen quality, it seems that leptin concentration in seminal plasma and blood serum of buffalo bull could have influence on the semen quality, which needs further investigations.

Acknowledgments

This project was financially supported by the grant of Postgraduate Studies Department of Urmia University. We wish to thank the authorities and personnel of the Buffalo Breeding Center of north-west of Iran for their cooperation and providing semen samples and access to their facilities.

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