Autocrine regulation of human sperm motility by the met-enkephalin opioid peptide
A novel role of the opioid system in the regulation of sperm function is demonstrated that shows that both exogenous and endogenous met-enkephalin can modulate sperm motility.
Authors
Nerea Subirán, Ph.D., Luz Candenas, Ph.D., Francisco M. Pinto, Ph.D., Ekaitz Agirregoitia, Ph.D., Antonio Cejudo-Román, J.D., Jon Irazusta, Ph.D.
Volume 98, Issue 3, Pages 617-625.e3, September 2012
Abstract
Objective:
To verify the presence of protein precursor pro-enkephalin (PENK) and metenkephalin in human spermatozoa and to characterize the effects of exogenous and endogenous enkephalins on sperm motility.
Design:
We carried out expression assays for met-enkephalin and its protein precursor PENK by RTPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence techniques in sperm cells and motility analysis after incubation of semen samples with met-enkephlin enzyme inhibitors and the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone. Met-enkephalin secretion was analyzed by flow cytometry.
Setting:
Assisted reproduction unit and academic research laboratory.
Patient(s):
Semen from 50 normozoospermic healthy human donors.
Intervention(s):
Spermatozoa isolated from semen on discontinuous Percoll gradient (40%-80%) followed by a swim-up were used for all techniques.
Main Outcome Measure(s):
Immunoblotting blots, indirect immunofluorescence antibody assays, RTPCR blots, flow cytometry plots, and percentage of motile sperm.
Result(s):
We found by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence that met-enkephalin and its protein precursor PENK are present in the head of human sperm cells. Endogenous met-enkephalin increased sperm motility, whereas the addition of exogenous met-enkephalin had a biphasic effect on motility, likely due to the activation of distinct receptor subtypes.
Conclusion:
We provide evidence for a new role of met-enkephalin as an endogenous mediator of sperm motility. This autocrine regulation of sperm function by the opioid system represents a new mechanism of regulation of male fertility and could be useful as an emerging target for male contraception.
Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(12)00590-0/fulltext
