Regulation of cyclic nucleotide hydrolysis in bovine sperm

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Many functions of sperm physiology are regulated by cyclic nucleotides. Specifically, cyclic adenosine monophosphate is involved in crucial events in sperm maturation processes such as motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction. Cyclic nucleotides are synthesized by cyclases to reach a threshold level activating kinases, phosphodiesterases (PDE) and ion gated-channels. Intracellular content of cyclic nucleotides depends not only on synthesis but on degradation by PDE. We have developed a test measuring PDE activity in bovine spermatozoa which supports the functional presence of one specific family, PDE10A. This grant application is aiming to further demonstrate that these technologies will offer a commercial advantage for Canadian insemination industries by optimizing the use of bovine spermatozoa, a market of several million dollars.