Defining spermatozoa cell surface proteome for improved breeding

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It is well recognized that male infertility represents a major problem for mammalian reproduction and, in turn, can endanger numerous socio-economic areas of human activities. In this context, the sustained efforts towards improving animal breeding and both the size and quality of our livestock are reinforced by the global pressure on increasing feeding capacities. Thus, it is essential that a better description of the components of the fertilization process be acquired so as to relate it to the spermatozoa fertilization capacities and to its potential for successful breeding endeavors. Surprisingly, relatively few proteins at the surface of the spermatozoa have nowadays been conclusively identified as playing a definite role or displaying a pivotal importance for successful reproduction. In this application, we will take advantage of new powerful molecular approaches to identify known and novel components in or associated with the membrane of freshly ejaculated bovine spermatozoa. This identification ultimately will be applied in the breeding industry through allowing the determination of the semen fertilization potential enabling one to select higher quality sperm. Concomitantly, in addition to better understanding this biological process, it is also our goal to identify proteins positively and negatively contributing to the process of sperm cryopreservation (cold storage), an area of great economic importance considering that, nowadays, most breeding is accomplished through artificial insemination using frozen spermatozoa. To do this, we will focus on economically important species such pig, sheep, horse or bovine species. Taken together, reaching these objectives could contribute to an increased knowledge which could directly benefit breeding and rearing of cattle.