Impact of climate perturbations on seeds and seed quality for global agriculture.

In agriculture, seeds are the most basic and vital input on which croplands productivity depends. These implies a good starting material, good production lines and good storage options. High-quality seed lots must be free of pests and pathogens and contain a required degree of genetic purity. Seeds need also to be stored in good condition between harvest and later sowing, to insure later on the field a good plant density and higher crop yield. In general, these parameters are already widely accepted and considered in many countries where advanced technologies evaluate them. However, the more and more frequently devastating climate changes observed around the world has put seed quality under threat, and current seeds may not be adapted to hazardous and unpredictable conditions. Climate-related factors such as temperature and water availability directly affect seed development and later germination. For these reasons, investigating seed quality in response to climate changes is a step to propose new crop varieties and practices that will bring solutions for our future.

A pilot clinical study to estimate intracranial pressure utilising cerebral photoplethysmograms in traumatic brain injury patients.

PURPOSE: In this research, a non-invasive intracranial pressure (nICP) optical sensor was developed and evaluated in a clinical pilot study. The technology relied on infrared light to probe brain tissue, using photodetectors to capture backscattered light modulated by vascular pulsations within the brain's vascular tissue. The underlying hypothesis was that changes in extramural arterial pressure could affect the morphology of recorded optical signals (photoplethysmograms, or PPGs), and analysing these signals with a custom algorithm could enable the non-invasive calculation of intracranial pressure (nICP). METHODS: This pilot study was the first to evaluate the nICP probe alongside invasive ICP monitoring as a gold standard. nICP monitoring occurred in 40 patients undergoing invasive ICP monitoring, with data randomly split for machine learning. Quality PPG signals were extracted and analysed for time-based features. The study employed Bland-Altman analysis and ROC curve calculations to assess nICP accuracy compared to invasive ICP data. RESULTS: Successful acquisition of cerebral PPG signals from traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients allowed for the development of a bagging tree model to estimate nICP non-invasively. The nICP estimation exhibited 95% limits of agreement of 3.8 mmHg with minimal bias and a correlation of 0.8254 with invasive ICP monitoring. ROC curve analysis showed strong diagnostic capability with 80% sensitivity and 89% specificity. CONCLUSION: The clinical evaluation of this innovative optical nICP sensor revealed its ability to estimate ICP non-invasively with acceptable and clinically useful accuracy. This breakthrough opens the door to further technological refinement and larger-scale clinical studies in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05632302, 11th November 2022, retrospectively registered.

Osmotically Sensitive TREK Channels in Rat Articular Chondrocytes: Expression and Functional Role.

Articular chondrocytes are the primary cells responsible for maintaining the integrity and functionality of articular cartilage, which is essential for smooth joint movement. A key aspect of their role involves mechanosensitive ion channels, which allow chondrocytes to detect and respond to mechanical forces encountered during joint activity; nonetheless, the variety of mechanosensitive ion channels involved in this process has not been fully resolved so far. Because some members of the two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channel family have been described as mechanosensors in other cell types, in this study, we investigate whether articular chondrocytes express such channels. RT-PCR analysis reveals the presence of TREK-1 and TREK-2 channels in these cells. Subsequent protein expression assessments, including Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, confirm the presence of TREK-1 in articular cartilage samples. Furthermore, whole-cell patch clamp assays demonstrate that freshly isolated chondrocytes exhibit currents attributable to TREK-1 channels, as evidenced by activation by arachidonic acid (AA) and ml335 and further inhibition by spadin. Additionally, exposure to hypo-osmolar shock activates currents, which can be attributed to the presence of TREK-1 channels, as indicated by their inhibition with spadin. Therefore, these findings highlight the expression of TREK channels in rat articular chondrocytes and suggest their potential involvement in regulating the integrity of cartilage extracellular matrix.

Genomic Insights into Cyanide Biodegradation in the Pseudomonas Genus.

Molecular studies about cyanide biodegradation have been mainly focused on the hydrolytic pathways catalyzed by the cyanide dihydratase CynD or the nitrilase NitC. In some Pseudomonas strains, the assimilation of cyanide has been linked to NitC, such as the cyanotrophic model strain Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344, which has been recently reclassified as Pseudomonas oleovorans CECT 5344. In this work, a phylogenomic approach established a more precise taxonomic position of the strain CECT 5344 within the species P. oleovorans. Furthermore, a pan-genomic analysis of P. oleovorans and other species with cyanotrophic strains, such as P. fluorescens and P. monteilii, allowed for the comparison and identification of the cioAB and mqoAB genes involved in cyanide resistance, and the nitC and cynS genes required for the assimilation of cyanide or cyanate, respectively. While cyanide resistance genes presented a high frequency among the analyzed genomes, genes responsible for cyanide or cyanate assimilation were identified in a considerably lower proportion. According to the results obtained in this work, an in silico approach based on a comparative genomic approach can be considered as an agile strategy for the bioprospection of putative cyanotrophic bacteria and for the identification of new genes putatively involved in cyanide biodegradation.

Bioremediation of cyanide-containing wastes: The potential of systems and synthetic biology for cleaning up the toxic leftovers from mining.

Synthetic biology could harness the ability of microorganisms to use highly toxic cyanide compounds for growth applied to bioremediation of cyanide-contaminated mining wastes and areas.

Nailfold videocapillaroscopy patterns in systemic sclerosis: implications for cutaneous subsets, disease features and prognostic value for survival.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the associations and prognostic value of scleroderma patterns by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and cutaneous subsets. METHODS: At baseline, 1356 SSc patients from the RESCLE registry were compared according to the scleroderma pattern as Late pattern and non-Late pattern, which included Early and Active patterns. Patient characteristics, disease features, survival time and causes of death were analysed. RESULTS: Late pattern was identified in 540 (39.8%), and non-Late pattern in 816 (60.2%) patients (88% women; 987 lcSSc/251 dcSSc). Late pattern was associated to dcSSc (OR=1.96; p<0.001), interstitial lung disease (ILD) (OR=1.29; p=0.031), and scleroderma renal crisis (OR=3.46; p<0.001). Once the cutaneous subset was disregarded in an alternative analysis, both digital ulcers (DU) (OR=1.29; p<0.037) and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies (OR=1.39; p< 0.036) emerged associated with the Late pattern. By cutaneous subsets, associations with Late pattern were: (1) in dcSSc, acro-osteolysis (OR=2.13; p=0.022), and systolic pulmonary artery pressure >40 mmHg by Doppler echocardiogram (OR=2.24; p<0.001); and (2) in lcSSc, ILD (OR=1.38; p=0.028). Survival was reduced in dcSSc with Late pattern compared to non-Late pattern (p=0.049). Risk factors for SSc mortality in multivariate regression Cox analysis were age at diagnosis (HR=1.03; p<0.001), dcSSc (HR=2.48; p<0.001), DU (HR=1.38; p=0.046), ILD (HR=2.81; p<0.001), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (HR=1.99; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SSc patients with Late pattern more frequently present dcSSc and develop more fibrotic and vascular manifestations. Advanced microangiopathy by NVC identifies dcSSc patients at risk of reduced survival due to SSc-related causes.

Ouabain's Influence on TRPV4 Channels of Epithelial Cells: An Exploration of TRPV4 Activity, Expression, and Signaling Pathways.

Ouabain, a substance originally obtained from plants, is now classified as a hormone because it is produced endogenously in certain animals, including humans. However, its precise effects on the body remain largely unknown. Previous studies have shown that ouabain can influence the phenotype of epithelial cells by affecting the expression of cell-cell molecular components and voltage-gated potassium channels. In this study, we conducted whole-cell clamp assays to determine whether ouabain affects the activity and/or expression of TRPV4 channels. Our findings indicate that ouabain has a statistically significant effect on the density of TRPV4 currents (dITRPV4), with an EC50 of 1.89 nM. Regarding treatment duration, dITRPV4 reaches its peak at around 1 h, followed by a subsequent decline and then a resurgence after 6 h, suggesting a short-term modulatory effect related to on TRPV4 channel activity and a long-term effect related to the promotion of synthesis of new TRPV4 channel units. The enhancement of dITRPV4 induced by ouabain was significantly lower in cells seeded at low density than in cells in a confluent monolayer, indicating that the action of ouabain depends on intercellular contacts. Furthermore, the fact that U73122 and neomycin suppress the effect caused by ouabain in the short term suggests that the short-term induced enhancement of dITRPV4 is due to the depletion of PIP2 stores. In contrast, the fact that the long-term effect is inhibited by PP2, wortmannin, PD, FR18, and IKK16 suggests that cSrc, PI3K, Erk1/2, and NF-kB are among the components included in the signaling pathways.

Proteomic Analysis of Arsenic Resistance during Cyanide Assimilation by Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344.

Wastewater from mining and other industries usually contains arsenic and cyanide, two highly toxic pollutants, thereby creating the need to develop bioremediation strategies. Here, molecular mechanisms triggered by the simultaneous presence of cyanide and arsenite were analyzed by quantitative proteomics, complemented with qRT-PCR analysis and determination of analytes in the cyanide-assimilating bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344. Several proteins encoded by two ars gene clusters and other Ars-related proteins were up-regulated by arsenite, even during cyanide assimilation. Although some proteins encoded by the cio gene cluster responsible for cyanide-insensitive respiration decreased in the presence of arsenite, the nitrilase NitC required for cyanide assimilation was unaffected, thus allowing bacterial growth with cyanide and arsenic. Two complementary As-resistance mechanisms were developed in this bacterium, the extrusion of As(III) and its extracellular sequestration in biofilm, whose synthesis increased in the presence of arsenite, and the formation of organoarsenicals such as arseno-phosphoglycerate and methyl-As. Tetrahydrofolate metabolism was also stimulated by arsenite. In addition, the ArsH2 protein increased in the presence of arsenite or cyanide, suggesting its role in the protection from oxidative stress caused by both toxics. These results could be useful for the development of bioremediation strategies for industrial wastes co-contaminated with cyanide and arsenic.

The ß2-Subunit (AMOG) of Human Na+, K+-ATPase Is a Homophilic Adhesion Molecule.

The ß2 subunit of Na+, K+-ATPase was originally identified as the adhesion molecule on glia (AMOG) that mediates the adhesion of astrocytes to neurons in the central nervous system and that is implicated in the regulation of neurite outgrowth and neuronal migration. While ß1 isoform have been shown to trans-interact in a species-specific mode with the ß1 subunit on the epithelial neighboring cell, the ß2 subunit has been shown to act as a recognition molecule on the glia. Nevertheless, none of the works have identified the binding partner of ß2 or described its adhesion mechanism. Until now, the interactions pronounced for ß2/AMOG are heterophilic cis-interactions. In the present report we designed experiments that would clarify whether ß2 is a cell-cell homophilic adhesion molecule. For this purpose, we performed protein docking analysis, cell-cell aggregation, and protein-protein interaction assays. We observed that the glycosylated extracellular domain of ß2/AMOG can make an energetically stable trans-interacting dimer. We show that CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) fibroblasts transfected with the human ß2 subunit become more adhesive and make large aggregates. The treatment with Tunicamycin in vivo reduced cell aggregation, suggesting the participation of N-glycans in that process. Protein-protein interaction assay in vivo with MDCK (Madin-Darby canine kidney) or CHO cells expressing a recombinant ß2 subunit show that the ß2 subunits on the cell surface of the transfected cell lines interact with each other. Overall, our results suggest that the human ß2 subunit can form trans-dimers between neighboring cells when expressed in non-astrocytic cells, such as fibroblasts (CHO) and epithelial cells (MDCK).

The NtrYX Two-Component System of Paracoccus denitrificans Is Required for the Maintenance of Cellular Iron Homeostasis and for a Complete Denitrification under Iron-Limited Conditions.

Denitrification consists of the sequential reduction of nitrate to nitrite, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and dinitrogen. Nitrous oxide escapes to the atmosphere, depending on copper availability and other environmental factors. Iron is also a key element because many proteins involved in denitrification contain iron-sulfur or heme centers. The NtrYX two-component regulatory system mediates the responses in a variety of metabolic processes, including denitrification. A quantitative proteomic analysis of a Paracoccus denitrificans NtrY mutant grown under denitrifying conditions revealed the induction of different TonB-dependent siderophore transporters and proteins related to iron homeostasis. This mutant showed lower intracellular iron content than the wild-type strain, and a reduced growth under denitrifying conditions in iron-limited media. Under iron-rich conditions, it releases higher concentrations of siderophores and displayes lower nitrous oxide reductase (NosZ) activity than the wild-type, thus leading to nitrous oxide emission. Bioinformatic and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that NtrYX is a global transcriptional regulatory system that responds to iron starvation and, in turn, controls expression of the iron-responsive regulators fur, rirA, and iscR, the denitrification regulators fnrP and narR, the nitric oxide-responsive regulator nnrS, and a wide set of genes, including the cd1-nitrite reductase NirS, nitrate/nitrite transporters and energy electron transport proteins.

Burden and satisfaction experienced in relatives and patients during home hospitalisation in psychiatry.

The role of caregivers is essential during home hospitalization since they act as co-therapists, being the level of responsibility experienced by them higher than usual.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently impacts an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. Secondary injuries after traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to impairments on cerebral oxygenation and autoregulation. Considering that secondary brain injuries often take place within the first hours after the trauma, noninvasive monitoring might be helpful in providing early information on the brain's condition. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an emerging noninvasive monitoring modality based on chromophore absorption of infrared light with the capability of monitoring perfusion of the brain. This review investigates the main applications of NIRS in TBI monitoring and presents a thorough revision of those applications on oxygenation and autoregulation monitoring. Databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane library were utilized in identifying 72 publications spanning between 1977 and 2020 which were directly relevant to this review. The majority of the evidence found used NIRS for diagnosis applications, especially in oxygenation and autoregulation monitoring (59%). It was not surprising that nearly all the patients were male adults with severe trauma who were monitored mostly with continue wave NIRS or spatially resolved spectroscopy NIRS and an invasive monitoring device. In general, a high proportion of the assessed papers have concluded that NIRS could be a potential noninvasive technique for assessing TBI, despite the various methodological and technological limitations of NIRS.

Effectiveness of a best practice guideline to manage pain in surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: The prevention and control of acute postoperative pain is essential, not only to avoid unnecessary suffering, but to reduce postoperative morbidity, recovery time, hospital stay and associated costs. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of implementing the Clinical Best Practice Guideline (BPG) "Assessment and Management of Pain" recommendations for pain control in surgical patients. METHODS: Prospective, observational, longitudinal study. SUBJECTS: Surgical patients over 14 admitted to the University Hospital Complex of Albacete, and discharged during the last working days of every month. VARIABLES: 1) demographic data, hospital stay. 2) The process indicators of BPG implementation. 3) Patient outcomes: prevalence and intensity of pain in the first 24 postsurgical hours, maximum intensity of pain during hospitalization. TOOLS: Scales of assessment of pain intensity (0-10). DATA COLLECTION: Database of BPSO/CCEC® Program. ETHICAL ASPECTS: Anonymous data. DATA ANALYSIS (SPSS® V12): Descriptive during four periods: baseline (T0: December 2012); initial (T1: June-December 2013); intermediate (T2: 2014-2015); consolidation (T3: 2016-2017). Measurements of central tendency and dispersion, absolute and relative frequencies, according to variables. Comparison of proportions (Chi-Square) and averages (Student t-test, ANOVA). STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE: p < 0.05. RESULTS: Included 3934 patients, 52.3% (2058) men. Daily intervention of pain detection was performed in 73.5% (2890) of patients (28% T0; 67.4% T1; 66.7% T2; 89.9% T3; p < 0.0001), assessment of pain with a scale in 65.2% (2567) (0% T0; 48.8% T1; 59.4% T2; 85.6% T3; p < 0.0001); 35.3% (1389) had a care plan for assessment and management of pain (0% T0; 34.6% T1; 32.3% T2; 42.3% T3; p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients who had serious pain (>5) during the first 24 h was reduced from 12.4% (T1) to 5.3% (T3) (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Implementation of recommendations has led to a statistically significant improvement over the periods in the study. Pain intensity and the percentage of patients with severe pain have decreased in a significant way.

Progressive nodular histiocytosis: an unusual disorder.

Progressive nodular histiocytosis (PNH) is a rare type of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the xanthogranuloma group. Less than 20 cases have been reported. We report here a novel case of PNH with dermoscopic description and post-surgical outcome. Our patient presented with pruritic papules and nodules with progression over two years. Dermoscopic examination of large lesions showed multiple telangiectases without ulceration. There was no mucosal involvement. Histopathological analysis of a papule showed a dermal infiltrate composed of histiocytes and many Touton giant cells; a nodule revealed a dermis occupied by spindle cells arranged in a storiform pattern. The nodules were resected and the largest surgical defect, on the forehead, was corrected with A-T advancement flap. The papules were treated with cryosurgery achieving adequate cosmetic outcome without recurrence.

Epidemiology of Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever in Endemic Area, Spain.

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by spirochetes of Borrelia bacteria. We collected data on all TBRF cases in a TBRF-endemic area in southwest Spain during 1994-2016. We analyzed data from 98 patients in whom TBRF was diagnosed by light microscopy and analyzed the relationship between climatic data and TBRF incidence. Most cases occurred a rural environment during summer and autumn. We describe demographic, epidemiologic, clinical, and analytical characteristics, treatment, and occurrence of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. Most patients had fever and headache, and laboratory test results included elevated C-reactive protein, thrombocytopenia, and neutrophilia. No patients died, but 10.1% had Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction. B. hispanica was the infecting species in 12 cases with PCR results. Clinicians often do not suspect TBRF because clinical signs and symptoms vary; therefore, it is likely underdiagnosed, even in disease-endemic areas.

Quality of life, psychological well-being, and resilience in caregivers of people with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Aim: The study aims to examine whether characteristics of patients with Acquired Brain Injury-ABI (time elapsed since injury, level of dependence and behavioral problems) and resilience factors of the caregiver predicted caregiver well-being (quality of life, anxiety,depression and positive aspects of caregiving).Methods: 78 voluntary family caregivers (75.6% female) of patients with ABI completed the Barthel Index, Head Behavior Injury Scale, Questionnaire of Resilience in Caregivers of Acquired Brain Injury, WHOQOL-BREF, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale,and Positive Aspects of Caregiving Scale. Correlation analysis and stepwise regression were carried out.Results: Time elapsed since injury showed a negative relationship with positive aspects of caregiving. On the other hand, care-recipients' behavioral problems showed significant associations with all caregiver variables: negatively with quality of life and positive aspects of caregiving, and positively with anxiety and depression. Regarding resilience, we found a positive relationship with quality of life and positive aspects of caregiving, and a negative association with anxiety and depression, showing better predictive power with depression.Conclusions: We confirm the relevance of developing multidisciplinary caregiver intervention programmes focused on positive ways to handle care-recipients' behavioral problems and developing positive coping skills, such as positive reinterpretation, acceptance and seeking social support, that may optimize caregiver resilience.

Cyanate Assimilation by the Alkaliphilic Cyanide-Degrading Bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344: Mutational Analysis of the cyn Gene Cluster.

The alkaliphilic bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 can grow with cyanate, cyanide, or cyanide-containing industrial residues as the sole nitrogen source, but the assimilation of cyanide and cyanate takes place through independent pathways. Therefore, cyanide degradation involves a chemical reaction between cyanide and oxaloacetate to form a nitrile that is hydrolyzed to ammonium by the nitrilase NitC, whereas cyanate assimilation requires a cyanase that catalyzes cyanate decomposition to ammonium and carbon dioxide. The P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 cynFABDS gene cluster codes for the putative transcriptional regulator CynF, the ABC-type cyanate transporter CynABD, and the cyanase CynS. In this study, transcriptional analysis revealed that the structural cynABDS genes constitute a single transcriptional unit, which was induced by cyanate and repressed by ammonium. Mutational characterization of the cyn genes indicated that CynF was essential for cynABDS gene expression and that nitrate/nitrite transporters may be involved in cyanate uptake, in addition to the CynABD transport system. Biodegradation of hazardous jewelry wastewater containing high amounts of cyanide and metals was achieved in a batch reactor operating at an alkaline pH after chemical treatment with hydrogen peroxide to oxidize cyanide to cyanate.

A Model for the Homotypic Interaction between Na+,K+-ATPase ß1 Subunits Reveals the Role of Extracellular Residues 221-229 in Its Ig-Like Domain.

The Na+, K+-ATPase transports Na+ and K+ across the membrane of all animal cells. In addition to its ion transporting function, the Na+, K+-ATPase acts as a homotypic epithelial cell adhesion molecule via its ß1 subunit. The extracellular region of the Na+, K+-ATPase ß1 subunit includes a single globular immunoglobulin-like domain. We performed Molecular Dynamics simulations of the ectodomain of the ß1 subunit and a refined protein-protein docking prediction. Our results show that the ß1 subunit Ig-like domain maintains an independent structure and dimerizes in an antiparallel fashion. Analysis of the putative interface identified segment Lys221-Tyr229. We generated triple mutations on YFP-ß1 subunit fusion proteins to assess the contribution of these residues. CHO fibroblasts transfected with mutant ß1 subunits showed a significantly decreased cell-cell adhesion. Association of ß1 subunits in vitro was also reduced, as determined by pull-down assays. Altogether, we conclude that two Na+, K+-ATPase molecules recognize each other by a large interface spanning residues 221-229 and 198-207 on their ß1 subunits.

Ouabain Enhances Cell-Cell Adhesion Mediated by ß1 Subunits of the Na+,K+-ATPase in CHO Fibroblasts.

Adhesion is a crucial characteristic of epithelial cells to form barriers to pathogens and toxic substances from the environment. Epithelial cells attach to each other using intercellular junctions on the lateral membrane, including tight and adherent junctions, as well as the Na+,K+-ATPase. Our group has shown that non-adherent chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the canine ß1 subunit become adhesive, and those homotypic interactions amongst ß1 subunits of the Na+,K+-ATPase occur between neighboring epithelial cells. Ouabain, a cardiotonic steroid, binds to the α subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase, inhibits the pump activity and induces the detachment of epithelial cells when used at concentrations above 300 nM. At nanomolar non-inhibiting concentrations, ouabain affects the adhesive properties of epithelial cells by inducing the expression of cell adhesion molecules through the activation of signaling pathways associated with the α subunit. In this study, we investigated whether the adhesion between ß1 subunits was also affected by ouabain. We used CHO fibroblasts stably expressing the ß1 subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase (CHO ß1), and studied the effect of ouabain on cell adhesion. Aggregation assays showed that ouabain increased the adhesion between CHO ß1 cells. Immunofluorescence and biotinylation assays showed that ouabain (50 nM) increases the expression of the ß1 subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase at the cell membrane. We also examined the effect of ouabain on the activation of signaling pathways in CHO ß1 cells, and their subsequent effect on cell adhesion. We found that cSrc is activated by ouabain and, therefore, that it likely regulates the adhesive properties of CHO ß1 cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that the ß1 subunit adhesion is modulated by the expression levels of the Na+,K+-ATPase at the plasma membrane, which is regulated by ouabain.

Sperm binding to porcine oviductal cells is mediated by SRCR domains contained in DMBT1.

The oviduct is an organ in which a subpopulation of sperm is stored in a reservoir, preserving its fertilizing potential. In porcine, two oviductal proteins have been identified in relation to sperm binding, Annexin A2 and Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumor 1 (DMBT1). DMBT1 is a multifunctional, multidomain glycoprotein, and the characteristics of all of its domains, as well as its carbohydrates, make them candidates for sperm binding. In this work, we challenge sperm for binding to pig oviductal cells on primary culture, after treatment with antibodies specific for the different domains present in DMBT1. Only anti-SRCR antibodies produced inhibition of sperm binding to cells. Thus, SRCR is the main domain in DMBT1 promoted sperm binding to form the reservoir in the oviduct, and this function is probably elicited through the polypeptide itself.