Metabolomic Analysis of Cauda Epididymal Fluid in Yaks and Cattle

The epididymis is crucial for sperm maturation, with its caudal region storing mature sperm. Yaks show poorer sperm motility and higher abnormality rates than cattle, but the metabolic mechanisms remain unknown. This study compared cauda epididymal fluid metabolites between six yaks and six cattle using untargeted metabolomics. A total of 1098 and 1297 metabolites types annotated by the Human Metabolome Database were identified in yak and cattle cauda epididymal fluid, respectively, using positive and negative ion modes. The Yak cauda epididymal fluid exhibited distinct metabolic profiles compared with cattle. A total of 79 metabolites were upregulated and 212 were downregulated in the positive ion mode, while 110 were upregulated and 230 were downregulated in the negative ion mode. Among these, 14 metabolites were reported to promote sperm quality, function or metabolism by reducing oxidative stress, blocking premature sperm capacitation and spontaneous acrosome reaction, enhancing mitochondrial energy metabolism or facilitating flagellar motility in cattle or other species. Four were reported to impair the quality or function of sperm via increasing the DNA methylation, inhibiting spermatozoa motility, upregulating the ROS levels and diminishing sperm motility. Taken together, this study established a valuable metabolomic reference dataset for yak reproductive biology and provided new insights into the molecular regulation of sperm function.