Abstract
Seminal plasma (SP) regulates immune responses in the female reproductive tract through specific cytokines. It is not known whether SP from high fertility bulls (H) differs from SP from low fertility bulls (L). In this study, the cytokine response of bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEEC) in culture was investigated after challenge with SP from two bulls of below average (L) or three bulls of above average fertility (H). The bEECs were challenged with 1% or 4% SP from l- or H-fertility bulls (L1, L4, H1, H4, respectively) or 1% or 4% PBS as control (C1, C4) for 72 h. The culture media were analysed for concentrations (pg/million cells) of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3) by Luminex, and Interleukin 6 and 8 (IL-6, IL-8) by ELISA. Challenge significantly affected production of TGF-ß1, TGF-ß2 and IL-8 compared to controls and was affected by bull fertility (p < 0.0001), SP concentration (p < 0.0001) and their interaction (p < 0.0001). A higher production of TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and IL-8 (p < 0.0001), and also IL-6 (p < 0.01), resulted from challenge with high doses of SP, being higher for L than H (p < 0.05). For TGF-β3, fertility of bull (p < 0.05). For TGF-B3, fertility of bull (p < 0.05) and the interaction between fertility and concentration of SP were significant (p < 0.01). In conclusion, 4% SP from L bulls stimulated more TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, IL-6 and IL-8 production than SP from H bulls, indicating that stimulation of the endometrium is relevant for fertility. Seminal plasma from high fertility bulls seems to affect cytokine production in utero positively in inseminated cows.
Highlights
The liquid portion of semen, seminal plasma (SP), promotes sperm motility and serves as a medium for transporting the spermatozoa into the female genital tract in some species (Bromfield, 2016; Maxwell et al, 2007; Poiani, 2006)
A higher production of TGF-β2 resulted from challenge with L4 than H4
Bovine SP was shown to affect production of the five cytokines TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3, Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) by bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEEC), depending on the level of challenge and the fertility of the donor bulls. Production of these cytokines was greater after challenge with a high dose of SP from a low fertility bull than from a high fertility bull
Summary
The liquid portion of semen, seminal plasma (SP), promotes sperm motility and serves as a medium for transporting the spermatozoa into the female genital tract in some species (Bromfield, 2016; Maxwell et al, 2007; Poiani, 2006). It is predominantly produced by the accessory sex glands and contains small amounts of testicular and epididymal fluid (Bromfield, 2016). The specific effects of bovine SP on bovine endometrial cells are not known SP from low fertility bulls had an adverse effect on cell viability in culture in a dose dependent
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