Evaluation of lipid changes in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa during in-vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction

Abstract

In this study, buffalo spermatozoa were in-vitro capacitated and acrosome reacted using modified Tyrode’s bicarbonate-buffered medium (sp-TALP media). Lipids were extracted from freshly ejaculated, in-vitro capacitated and acrosome reacted buffalo spermatozoa. The total lipid content of freshly ejaculated spermatozoa (171.5±2.90 μg/108 cells), capacitated spermatozoa (128.2±3.29 μg/108 cells) and acrosome reacted spermatozoa (115.7±2.04 μg/108 cells) were found significantly (P<0.05) different. During the process of capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR) there was substantial loss of total lipids. The total Lipid content of freshly ejaculated, capacitated and acrosome reacted spermatozoa were fractionated into three major classes namely, Phospholipids, Neutral lipids and Glycolipids. Among the classes of lipids; there was no change in concentration of glycolipids. Phospholipids in fresh, capacitated and acrosome reacted spermatozoa were 84.27±1.96, 58.40±2.40 and 50.51±1.27 μg/108 cells respectively. In case of Neutral lipids, the concentration were 33.63±2.62, 22.55±1.86 and 11.61±0.87 μg/108 cells in fresh, capacitated and acrosome reacted spermatozoa respectively. The results generated by this study will be one step further to understand the lipid changes in buffalo spermatozoa during capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilization process.