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Scientific Reports Oct 2015All cells are covered by glycans, an individually unique layer of oligo- and polysaccharides that are critical moderators of self-recognition and other cellular-level...
All cells are covered by glycans, an individually unique layer of oligo- and polysaccharides that are critical moderators of self-recognition and other cellular-level interactions (e.g. fertilization). The functional similarity between these processes suggests that gamete surface glycans may also have an important, but currently overlooked, role in sexual selection. Here we develop a user-friendly methodological approach designed to facilitate future tests of this possibility. Our proposed method is based on flow cytometric quantification of female-induced sperm acrosome reaction and sperm surface glycan modifications in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. In this species, as with many other taxa, eggs release water-soluble factors that attract conspecific sperm (chemoattraction) and promote potentially measurable changes in sperm behavior and physiology. We demonstrate that flow cytometry is able to identify sperm from other seawater particles as well as accurately measure both acrosome reaction and structural modifications in sperm glycans. This methodological approach can increase our understanding of chemically-moderated gamete-level interactions and individual-specific gamete recognition in Mytilus sp. and other taxa with similar, easily identifiable acrosome structure. Our approach is also likely to be applicable to several other species, since carbohydrate-mediated cellular-level interactions between gametes are universal among externally and internally fertilizing species.
Topics: Acrosome; Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Bivalvia; Female; Fertilization; Flow Cytometry; Lectins; Male; Monosaccharides; Polysaccharides; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 26470849
DOI: 10.1038/srep15321 -
Asian Journal of Andrology Sep 2008To investigate the in vitro effects of insulin and leptin on human sperm motility, viability, acrosome reaction and nitric oxide (NO) production.
AIM
To investigate the in vitro effects of insulin and leptin on human sperm motility, viability, acrosome reaction and nitric oxide (NO) production.
METHODS
Washed human spermatozoa from normozoospermic donors were treated with insulin (10 microIU) and leptin (10 nmol). Insulin and leptin effects were blocked by inhibition of their intracellular effector, phosphotidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), by wortmannin (10 micromol) 30 min prior to insulin and leptin being given. Computer-assisted semen analysis was used to assess motility after 1, 2 and 3 h of incubation. Viability was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting using propidium iodide as a fluorescent probe. Acrosome-reacted cells were observed under a fluorescent microscope using fluorescein-isothiocyanate-Pisum sativum agglutinin as a probe. NO was measured after treating the sperm with 4,5-diaminofluorescein-2/diacetate (DAF-2/DA) and analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting.
RESULTS
Insulin and leptin significantly increased total motility, progressive motility and acrosome reaction, as well as NO production.
CONCLUSION
This study showed the in vitro beneficial effects of insulin and leptin on human sperm function. These hormones could play a role in enhancing the fertilization capacity of human spermatozoa.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Cell Survival; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; In Vitro Techniques; Insulin; Leptin; Male; Nitric Oxide; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 18645684
DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2008.00421.x -
Current Topics in Developmental Biology 2013To succeed in fertilization, spermatozoa must decode environmental cues which require a set of ion channels. Recent findings have revealed that K(+) and Cl(-) channels... (Review)
Review
To succeed in fertilization, spermatozoa must decode environmental cues which require a set of ion channels. Recent findings have revealed that K(+) and Cl(-) channels participate in some of the main sperm functions. This work reviews the evidence indicating the involvement of K(+) and Cl(-) channels in motility, maturation, and the acrosome reaction, and the advancement in identifying their molecular identity and modes of regulation. Improving our insight on how these channels operate will strengthen our ability to surmount some infertility problems, improve animal breeding, preserve biodiversity, and develop selective and secure male contraceptives.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Chloride Channels; Humans; Male; Membrane Transport Proteins; Potassium Channels; Sperm Capacitation; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 23287041
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-416024-8.00014-3 -
Asian Journal of Andrology 2015Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a member of the PPARs, which are transcription factors of the steroid receptor superfamily. PPARγ acts as... (Review)
Review
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a member of the PPARs, which are transcription factors of the steroid receptor superfamily. PPARγ acts as an important molecule for regulating energy homeostasis, modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and is reciprocally regulated by HPG. In the human, PPARγ protein is highly expressed in ejaculated spermatozoa, implying a possible role of PPARγ signaling in regulating sperm energy dissipation. PPARγ protein is also expressed in Sertoli cells and germ cells (spermatocytes). Its activation can be induced during capacitation and the acrosome reaction. This mini-review will focus on how PPARγ signaling may affect fertility and sperm quality and the potential reversibility of these adverse effects.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Energy Metabolism; Fertility; Fertilization; Humans; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Infertility, Male; Leptin; Male; PPAR gamma; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Semen Analysis; Sertoli Cells; Signal Transduction; Sperm Capacitation; Spermatocytes; Spermatogenesis; Spermatozoa; Testis
PubMed: 25851655
DOI: 10.4103/1008-682X.150253 -
The Journal of Reproduction and... Feb 2022We aimed to analyze the influence of different cellular concentrations of boar sperm suspensions on the induction of capacitation and acrosome reaction. When spermatozoa...
We aimed to analyze the influence of different cellular concentrations of boar sperm suspensions on the induction of capacitation and acrosome reaction. When spermatozoa were incubated at 100 or 200 mill/ml, significant increases in protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the p32 protein were observed, compared to those at 50 mill/ml. In addition, sperm concentration-dependent increases were observed in plasma membrane lipid disorganization (50 mill/ml vs. 200 mill/ml), induction of the acrosome reaction (50 mill/ml vs. 100 mill/ml and 200 mill/ml), and sperm viability (50 mill/ml vs. 100 mill/ml and 200 mill/ml). Our data indicate that an increase in sperm concentration stimulates the induction of capacitation and acrosome reaction in boars.
Topics: Acrosome; Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Male; Phosphorylation; Sperm Capacitation; Spermatozoa; Suspensions; Swine
PubMed: 34690211
DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2021-075 -
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Apr 2008Cannabinoids, the main active components of marijuana, have been shown to exert different adverse effects on male reproduction both in vertebrates and invertebrates. The... (Review)
Review
Cannabinoids, the main active components of marijuana, have been shown to exert different adverse effects on male reproduction both in vertebrates and invertebrates. The main effects of endocannabinoids, a particular group of endogenously produced cannabinoids, in sperm are the inhibition of motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction, all fundamental processes necessary for oocyte penetration, whose alteration leads to the inhibition of sperm fertilizing ability. These inhibitory effects are mediated by the direct action of endocannabinoids on sperm through the activation of the cannabinoid receptor subtype 1 that has been shown to be expressed in mature sperm. In many different cell types it has been demonstrated that endocannabinoids negatively influence mitochondrial activity. In the present paper it will be briefly reviewed the role of endocannabinoids, on sperm motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction with particular attention on the possible interference of endocannabinoids with sperm mitochondrial activity.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; Endocannabinoids; Energy Metabolism; Humans; Male; Sperm Capacitation; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 18406050
DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.02.013 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2021Integrins are transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix communication. They are involved in the sperm maturation including...
Integrins are transmembrane receptors that facilitate cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix communication. They are involved in the sperm maturation including capacitation and gamete interaction, resulting in successful fertilization. αV integrin belongs to the integrin glycoprotein superfamily, and it is indispensable for physiological spermiogenesis and testosterone production. We targeted the gene and protein expression of the αV integrin subunit and described its membrane localization in sperm. Firstly, in mouse, we traced gene expression during spermatogenesis in testicular fraction separated by elutriation, and we detected gene activity in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids. Secondly, we specified αV integrin membrane localization in acrosome-intact and acrosome-reacted sperm and compared its pattern between mouse, pig, and human. Using immunodetection and structured illumination microscopy (SIM), the αV integrin localization was confined to the plasma membrane covering the acrosomal cap area and also to the inner acrosomal membrane of acrosome-intact sperm of all selected species. During the acrosome reaction, which was induced on capacitated sperm, the αV integrin relocated and was detected over the whole sperm head. Knowledge of the integrin pattern in mature sperm prepares the ground for further investigation into the pathologies and related fertility issues in human medicine and veterinary science.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Humans; Integrin alphaV; Male; Mice; Spermatozoa; Swine
PubMed: 34502434
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179525 -
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics : MCP Apr 2022Spermatozoon represents a very special cell type in human body, and glycosylation plays essential roles in its whole life including spermatogenesis, maturation,...
Spermatozoon represents a very special cell type in human body, and glycosylation plays essential roles in its whole life including spermatogenesis, maturation, capacitation, sperm-egg recognition, and fertilization. In this study, by mapping the most comprehensive N-glycoproteome of human spermatozoa using our recently developed site-specific glycoproteomic approaches, we show that spermatozoa contain a number of distinctive glycoproteins, which are mainly involved in spermatogenesis, acrosome reaction and sperm:oocyte membrane binding, and fertilization. Heavy fucosylation is observed on 14 glycoproteins mostly located at extracellular and cell surface regions in spermatozoa but not in other tissues. Sialylation and Lewis epitopes are enriched in the biological process of immune response in spermatozoa, while bisected core structures and LacdiNAc structures are highly expressed in acrosome. These data deepen our knowledge about glycosylation in spermatozoa and lay the foundation for functional study of glycosylation and glycan structures in male infertility.
Topics: Acrosome; Acrosome Reaction; Glycoproteins; Glycosylation; Humans; Male; Proteomics; Sperm Capacitation; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 35183770
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100214 -
Fertility and Sterility Jun 2012To develop and evaluate a method to detect acrosome reaction (AR) in live human sperm.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate a method to detect acrosome reaction (AR) in live human sperm.
DESIGN
Prospective study.
SETTING
Basic research laboratory.
PATIENT(S)
Human semen samples with normal parameters obtained from healthy donors.
INTERVENTION(S)
Acrosome reaction assays.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Fluorescence assessment of AR.
RESULT(S)
Evaluating acrosomal exocytosis in live human sperm is challenging. In this study, we report that in reacting sperm, Pisum sativum agglutinin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate rapidly permeates into the acrosome when fusion pores open and stabilizes the acrosomal matrix, preventing the dispersal of the granule contents.
CONCLUSION(S)
Fluorescent Pisum sativum agglutinin can be used to visualize AR in real time, to determine the percentage of sperm undergoing exocytosis upon stimulation, and to separate the population of reacting sperm by flow cytometry.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Exocytosis; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; Humans; Male; Pisum sativum; Plant Lectins; Prospective Studies; Semen Analysis; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Spermatozoa; Videotape Recording
PubMed: 22494923
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.03.002 -
The Journal of Reproduction and... Dec 2006Relaxin is a peptide hormone found in seminal plasma that has a physiological influence on sperm motility in some species. There are no reports on the effect of relaxin...
Relaxin is a peptide hormone found in seminal plasma that has a physiological influence on sperm motility in some species. There are no reports on the effect of relaxin on acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa. In this study, to investigate the effects of relaxin on sperm motility, acrosome reaction, and incorporation and oxidation of labeled glucose, boar spermatozoa were washed and preincubated for swim-up and then incubated (0-6 h) with 0, 20, or 40 ng/ml relaxin in mTALP medium. The results indicated that the addition of relaxin stimulated sperm motility significantly (P<0.05) during 1-4 h of incubation. The percentage of acrosome-reacted live spermatozoa was higher (P<0.05) when the spermatozoa were treated with 20 or 40 ng/ml relaxin. The rate of incorporation, and oxidation of glucose were also greater (P<0.05) in the spermatozoa incubated with relaxin compared to the control spermatozoa. The rate of incorporation and oxidation of (14)C-glucose were increased in correlation with acrosome reaction up to 4 h of incubation and then decreased in line with the increasing incubation period. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that relaxin accelerates not only motility but also the acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa.
Topics: Acrosome Reaction; Animals; Female; Glucose; Male; Relaxin; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Swine
PubMed: 16926527
DOI: 10.1262/jrd.18037