The presence of sexed sperm in bovine oviduct epithelial cells alters the protein profile related to stress and immune response.

Although sperm sexing technology has progressed considerably in the last decade, there are still challenges to fully understand the reason for the low fertility of sexed sperm. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect of sexed and non-sexed sperm on the proteome of bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOECs). Semen from six Nellore bulls was used and one ejaculate from each bull was collected and separated into three fractions: non-sexed, sexed for X-sperm and sexed for Y-sperm. Previously synchronized females were artificially inseminated with either a pool of non-sexed sperm from 6 sires (NS), or a pool of sexed X and Y sperm from 6 sires (XY) or saline solution (Control). After insemination, animals were slaughtered and oviducts were collected to obtain BOECs samples, which were used for proteomic analysis. The results revealed that the oviductal response on isthmus region to the presence of sperm is different when sexed and non-sexed sperm are used. Sexed sperm seemed to induced a more intense and imbalanced response to several processes, such as oxidative and heat stress, immune response and movement of the oviduct muscle.