Rabbit 4MID® Kit (proAKAP4 marker)

The Rabbit 4MID® Kit (Ref. 4VDX-18K6) is the first immunoassay that validates objectively semen quality by quantifying a protein biomarker named proAKAP4 in samples of rabbit semen.

This ELISA kit is the 1st functional test to evaluate sperm quality in rabbits based on a molecular approach.

The dosage of the proAKAP4 biomarker with the Rabbit 4MID® Kit, will bring:
• Objective information on semen quality
• Qualification of each breeding male and their ejaculates
• Pertinent parameter to improve sperm cryopreservation
• Selection of semen with long-lasting motility at post-thaw
• A functional indicator correlated to fertility and prolificity
• Selection of semen with less tail abnormalities
• An indicator of the good quality of spermatogenesis

The concentration of the proAKAP4 biomarker is a good indicator of sperm quality and of how the spermatozoa can keep its motility high and efficient overtimes (Sergeant et al., 2019 ; Delehedde et al. 2019).

High concentrations of proAKAP4 help select semen with long lasting motility and are indicative of good spermatogenesis, giving more mature, more “normal’ spermatozoa and less tail abnormalities ratio in bull semen samples (Bastan and Akcay, 2021).

Please contact us at for specific academic pricing.

Background

ProAKAP4 (A–kinase anchor protein 4) has been described over the last decade as a functional marker of spermatozoa. This key protein is largely conserved between species and its specific regulation during spermatogenesis seems essential to increase success rate in artificial insemination settings. Recent cross species analyses have identified the potential use of proAKAP4 as a pertinent biomarker of overall semen quality in clinical settings. In terms of structure, proAKAP4 is a precursor polypeptide that must be converted by motile and alive spermatozoa in mature AKAP4 that consequently will dock and coordinate the core transduction signals regulating sperm functionality, i.e motility, capacitating and fertility.

1. Luconi M, Cantini G, Baldi E, et al. Role of A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) in reproduction. Front Biosci. 2011;16:1315–1330.
2. Sergeant N, Briand-Amirat L, Bencharif D, et al. The sperm specific protein proAKAP4 as an innovative marker to evaluate sperm quality and fertility. Journal of Dairy and Veterinary Science. 2019;11:01‒19.
3. Delehedde M, Blommaert D, Jouy N, et al. Concentration of proAKAP4 as a pertinent read-out of sperm quality in mammals. Animal Rep Sci. 2018;194:224.
4. Delehedde M, Demouveaux B, Remy G, Selleslagh M et al. ProAKAP4 concentrations as an indicator of good spermatogenesis and sperm quality under oxidative stress conditions. Andrology. 2019;7(1):86.

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