Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Enhancing post-thaw qualities of cryopreserved buffalo semen by using sperm-quiescent proteins of cauda epididymal plasma |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Rajani Kumar Paul, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Haryana |
Timeline Start Year : | 2022 |
Timeline End Year : | 2024 |
Contact info : | drrajani1980@gmail.com |
Equipments : | Computer-assisted Semen analyzer
Phase-contrast microscope with computer
Minor Equipments |
Details
Executive Summary : | "Fertility rates in cryopreserved semen are low in cattle (34.5%) and buffaloes (25.5%) due to irreversible capacitation-like changes in the sperm membrane and reduced sperm energy. Sperm motility during cooling prior to preservation leads to production of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to membrane lipids. Buffalo sperm are more susceptible to oxidative damage due to higher polyunsaturated fatty acids in its membrane. Reversible inhibition of sperm motility and capacitation improves post-storage quality of semen. Cauda epididymis (CE) is known to preserve sperm in a quiescent state for several weeks, with the complex biochemical milieu of CE plasma and proteins being responsible. Recent studies have shown that semen preservation with crude CEP improves sperm quality of liquid-preserved ram semen. However, little is known about motility-inhibiting proteins (MIP) of buffalo, and their exact functional mechanism is far from clear.
The objectives of this study are to purify and characterize MIPs of buffalo CEP, analyze tissue-expression patterns of MIPs in the male reproductive tract, elucidate the mechanism of action of MIPs, and assess the effect of MIPs on preservation of buffalo semen. The experiments will involve isolation of MIPs from buffalo CEP, characterization of their physico-chemical properties, analysis of tissue expression in the male reproductive tract using RT-PCR and western blot analysis, deciphering the mechanism of action of these proteins, and evaluating their beneficial effect on liquid and cryopreservation of buffalo semen." |
Total Budget (INR): | 31,78,920 |
Organizations involved