Veterinarska stanica, Vol. 50 No. 3, 2019.
Review article
Biochemical parameters of seminal plasma in domestic animals and humans
Ivona Žura Žaja
orcid.org/0000-0002-0595-2524
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Ivana Švub
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Suzana Milinković-Tur
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Silvijo Vince
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Hrvoje Valpotić
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Dražen Đuričić
; Veterinarska stanica Đurđevac, Hrvatska
Snježana Čipčić
; Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marko Samardžija
; Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Hrvatska
Abstract
Semen is a mixture of spermatozoa, produced by the testicles, and seminal plasma secreted by the accessory sexual glands and epididymis, which are then combined at the time of ejaculation. Seminal plasma contains particles of different size that affect spermatozoa viability and function during their migration along the female reproductive tract, enabling protection from oxidative stress, and having important physiological roles in different processes prior to the penetration of a spermatozoon into an egg cell. These functions are referred to as: nutrition, protection, regulation of motility and capacitation of spermatozoa, gamete recognition and binding. Knowledge of physiological characteristics of sperm and seminal plasma, influence of breed, lines and individual impacts of disorders, are required for further advancement of reproduction efficiency and inheritance of the best traits of the semen genome. Knowledge of the chemical composition of seminal plasma is very important in the selection of the diluent, as it maintains and extends the lifetime of the spermatozoa during semen storage. Lipids, proteins and minerals participate in the metabolic and other processes of spermatogenesis. Lipids are constituents
of the cell membrane, participate in the metabolism and capacitation of spermatozoa, hyperactivation and acrosomal reaction, as well as in the fertilization of an egg cell. Proteins participate in capacitation and fertilization and in the transportation of spermatozoa through the female reproductive tract, and they facilitate phagocytosis and binding of dysfunctional spermatozoa. Minerals in the seminal plasma establish and maintain the osmotic equilibrium, they act as antibacterial agents and are essential for the proper motility of spermatozoa. Some are components of enzymes, while others participate in their activation. Infertility studies, particularly in humans, are focused more on analysing and determining seminal plasma parameters, as the number and motility of spermatozoa are not the only prerequisite for successful fertilization. Namely, it is also necessary to have a quality medium for maintaining their normal characteristics. Certain biochemical parameters in seminal plasma are used to measure the function or dysfunction of the testicles and accessory sex glands, or are related to semen quality and fertility or infertility.
Keywords
biochemical parameters; seminal plasma; spermatozoa; lipids; proteins; minerals
Hrčak ID:
223829
URI
Publication date:
11.6.2019.
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