Ovulation-inducing factor in semen: Implications for mammalian fertility

精液中的排卵诱导因子：对哺乳动物生育力的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04126
• 负责人: Adams, Gregg
• 金额: $ 9.46万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=765997
• 关键词: Ovulation; inducing; factor; semen; Implications

Two of the most intriguing mysteries in reproductive biology are the persistence among species of an elaborate accessory gland system in males and the phenomenon of copulation-induced ovulation in females. Our discoveries about an ovulation-inducing factor (OIF) in seminal plasma provide at least one explanation that links these phenomena together. The existence of an OIF in seminal plasma, detected in every mammalian species examined so far, has broad implications and immediately evokes questions about identity, tissue sources, mechanism of action, role among species, and relevance to fertility. Most of these questions remain unanswered. In a series of pioneering studies, we have documented that OIF exists in the semen of males and influences ovarian function in females of both spontaneous ovulators (e.g., cattle) and induced ovulators (e.g., llamas and alpacas), OIF in seminal plasma induces ovulation via an endocrine route (through the blood stream) in the female, and has a dose-dependent effect at quantities as small as that present in 1/100th of an ejaculate. We discovered that OIF in seminal fluid is identical to nerve growth factor (NGF) a factor previously associated with promoting growth and development of nerves. Importantly, it is present in greater quantities in seminal plasma than in any other body fluid. The long-term objective of the research program is to shed new light on mechanisms controlling induced and spontaneous ovulation among mammalian species. The short-term objectives are focused on 1) the form in which OIF is secreted into the seminal plasma in males, and how this form influences the transport and availability at target tissues in the female, 2) the primary sites of action of OIF in the female and the mechanism by which OIF signals the ovulatory response in the brain, 3) the pre- and post-pubertal developmental progression of the OIF system in induced ovulators, and 4) the potential of using OIF abundance as a marker for male fertility and relatedness among different species of induced ovulators. The discovery of OIF has opened an entirely new area of research about mechanisms controlling ovulation and future discoveries will unveil the mysterious connection between the constituents of semen in the male and the phenomenon of ovulation in the female.

生殖生物学中两个最令人感兴趣的谜团是雄性动物中复杂的附属腺系统在物种中的持续存在和雌性动物中交配诱导排卵的现象。我们关于精浆中的排卵诱导因子（OIF）的发现至少提供了一种将这些现象联系在一起的解释。到目前为止，在每一种哺乳动物中检测到精浆中存在OIF，这具有广泛的意义，并立即引发了有关身份、组织来源、作用机制、物种间作用以及与生育力相关性的问题。其中大部分问题仍然没有答案。在一系列开创性的研究中，我们已经证明OIF存在于男性的精液中，并影响两种自发排卵者的女性的卵巢功能（例如，牛）和诱导排卵者（例如，美洲驼和羊驼），精浆中的OIF通过内分泌途径（通过血流）诱导雌性排卵，并且在精液的1/100中存在的量小的情况下具有剂量依赖性作用。我们发现，精液中的OIF与神经生长因子（NGF）相同，后者以前与促进神经生长和发育有关。重要的是，它在精浆中的含量比在任何其他体液中的含量都要高。该研究计划的长期目标是揭示哺乳动物物种中控制诱导和自发排卵的机制。短期目标集中在1）OIF分泌到男性精浆中的形式，以及这种形式如何影响女性靶组织的运输和可用性，2）OIF在女性中的主要作用部位以及OIF在大脑中发出排卵反应信号的机制，3）诱导排卵者中OIF系统的青春期前和青春期后发育进展，以及4）使用OIF丰度作为不同物种诱导排卵者之间的雄性生育力和相关性的标记的潜力。OIF的发现开辟了一个关于控制排卵机制的全新研究领域，未来的发现将揭示男性精液成分与女性排卵现象之间的神秘联系。