Available online 4 May 2024

The effects of TRO19622 on pig sperm depend on the concentration of the inhibitor.

Inhibition of VDACs with 50 μM TRO19622 decreases sperm motility, viability and mitochondrial membrane potential.

Blockage of VDACs with 5 μM TRO19622 increases sperm motility, and has no detrimental impact on viability.

Mitochondrial function, as regulated by VDACs among other ion channels, is related to the liquid preservation of pig semen.

Pigs are usually bred through artificial insemination with liquid semen preserved at 15-20 °C. While this method of preservation brings many benefits, including a greater reproductive performance compared to frozen-thawed sperm, the period of storage is a limiting factor. As the mitochondrion regulates many facets of sperm physiology, modulating its activity could have an impact on their lifespan. Aligned with this hypothesis, the present study sought to investigate whether inhibition of voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs), which reside in the outer mitochondrial membrane and regulate the flux of ions between mitochondria and the cytosol in somatic cells, influences the resilience of pig sperm to liquid preservation at 17 °C. For this purpose, semen samples (N = 7) were treated with two different concentrations of TRO19622 (5 μM and 50 μM), an inhibitor of VDACs, and stored at 17 °C for 10 days. At days 0, 4 and 10, sperm quality and functionality parameters were evaluated by flow cytometry and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The effects of inhibiting VDACs depended on the concentration of the inhibitor. On the one hand, the greatest concentration of TRO19622 (50 μM) led to a decrease in sperm motility, viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, which could be related to the observed intracellular Ca2+ increase. In contrast, total sperm motility was higher in samples treated with 5 μM TRO19622 than in the control, suggesting that when VDACs channels are inhibited by the lowest concentration of the blocking agent the resilience of pig sperm to liquid storage increases. In conclusion, the current research indicates that mitochondrial function, as regulated by ion channels in the outer mitochondrial membrane like VDACs, is related to the sperm resilience to liquid preservation and may influence cell lifespan.

semen

liquid preservation

pig

sperm

mitochondria

VDAC

© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.