Accessory sex glands can be warranted to improve semen collection efficiencies in elephants. As observed herein and in a previous study [3], a high proportion of ejaculates obtained via the rectal massage techniqueFigure 2. One-dimensional gel electrophoresis of Asian elephant seminal plasma proteins. Each and every column represents protein profiles from seminal plasma samples obtained from various ejaculates. E1, E2, and E3 denote person Asian elephant bulls. G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6 denote seminal plasma samples obtained from ejaculates exhibiting superior motility ( 65 tMOT). P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 denote seminal plasma samples obtained from ejaculates exhibiting poor motility (#10 tMOT). MW: molecular weight marker. Band A was detected in 85 of seminal plasma samples from fantastic motility ejaculates (a representative gel is shown). In this figure, protein bands were visualized with Coomassie staining. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071033.gPLOS A single | www.plosone.orgLactotransferrin in Elephant Seminal PlasmaFigure three. Protein separation and peptide mass sequencing of Asian elephant seminal plasma. Seminal plasma proteins have been separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.Peptide YY (PYY) (3-36), Human GPCR/G Protein,Neuronal Signaling Chosen spots had been excised and submitted for mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) for protein identification by de novo sequencing of MALDI-PSD tandem mass spectra. Panel A: 2D gel of seminal plasma proteins from an ejaculate exhibiting very good sperm motility ( 65 tMOT). The same sample from Panel A is also shown in Figure 2, Lane G5. Cored spots from inside the train of this protein (circled; corresponding with band A in Figure two) were submitted for mass spectrometric evaluation. Panel B: Example of a 2D gel of seminal plasma proteins from an ejaculate exhibiting poor sperm motility (#10 tMOT). Panel C: Mass spectrum outcomes from MALDI-TOF. Panel D: Peptide mass sequencing identified the cored proteins as obtaining homology to lactotransferrin (i = isoleucine or leucine). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0071033.gPLOS 1 | www.plosone.orgLactotransferrin in Elephant Seminal PlasmaFigure 4. Amino acid sequence of predicted African elephant (Loxodonta africana) lactotransferrin determined in the 29 Mammals sequencing project (http://www.Ethylene glycol-d4 Autophagy broadinstitute.PMID:23329319 org). Alignment of tryptic peptide sequences determined by MALDI-PSD sequencing of SPITC derivitized peptides shown italicized. Residues marked as “i” represent either isoleucine (I) or leucine (L), that are isobaric. Asparagine 546 has most likely been deamidated to its corresponding aspartic acid. doi:ten.1371/journal.pone.0071033.gconsistently contained spermatozoa with poor motility. Nevertheless, top quality ejaculates have also been obtained using precisely the same rectal massage strategy [3,4]. This suggests that maybe other aspects, such as seasonality and/or circulating testosterone levels may perhaps contribute to this variation in semen excellent [20]. Though elephants aren’t deemed seasonal breeders, they routinely enter a cyclic heightened physiological state referred to as `musth’ that’s characterized by elevated testosterone levels [21]. Testosterone is essential to retain spermatogenesis [22] and influences semen top quality in several species [15]. Even so, it really is plausible that exponentially heightened levels of testosterone throughout musth could exert a detrimental impact on testicular and/or accessory gland function. In our study however, bulls had been not collectedduring musth due to the heightened aggressive and unpredictable behavior which is assoc.
