The Lipidomics of Spermatozoa and Red Blood Cells Membrane Profile of Martina Franca Donkey: Preliminary Evaluation.
Authors: Prasinou Paraskevi, De Amicis Ippolito, Fusaro Isa, Bucci Roberta, Cavallini Damiano, Parrillo Salvatore, Caputo Maurizio, Gramenzi Alessandro, Carluccio Augusto
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Membrane lipid composition fundamentally influences sperm function and fertility, yet detailed lipidomic profiling remains sparse in equine reproduction. Researchers analysed fatty acid profiles in spermatozoa and red blood cell membranes from 26 healthy Martina Franca donkey stallions using lipidomic techniques, establishing baseline data for this breed and examining correlations between specific lipids and conventional sperm parameters. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) dominated both cell types at 47.79% of total lipid content, with omega-6 PUFAs comprising 40.38%; notably, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) was highly prevalent in spermatozoa membranes (27.57%) but absent from erythrocytes, suggesting breed-specific or reproductive-driven membrane remodelling. Sperm motility showed positive correlation with stearic and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels, whilst progressive motility specifically correlated with oleic acid content. These findings provide practical reference values for donkey fertility assessment and suggest that optimising dietary lipid intake—particularly omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA balance—may enhance sperm quality and breeding outcomes, warranting nutritional intervention studies in subfertile males.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Fatty acid composition of sperm membranes may be a useful biomarker for assessing donkey fertility and sperm quality in breeding programs
- •Dietary or supplemental management targeting specific fatty acids (EPA, oleic acid, stearic acid) could potentially optimize sperm parameters in breeding males
- •Lipidomic analysis provides a non-invasive method to evaluate metabolic status during spermatogenesis and predict fertility outcomes
Key Findings
- •PUFA omega-6 comprise 40.38% of total PUFA content (47.79%) in both spermatozoa and red blood cell membranes in healthy male Martina Franca donkeys
- •DPA is the predominant fatty acid in spermatozoa membrane (27.57%) but is absent in erythrocyte membranes
- •Spermatozoa motility is positively correlated with stearic acid and EPA content
- •Progressive motility is positively correlated with oleic acid concentration in sperm membranes