Effect of zinc on human sperm motility and the acrosome reaction

Riffo, Marta S.; Leiva, S.; Astudillo, Javier

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1992.tb01343.x

Cited by 78 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The latter notion is supported by the fact that incubation of sperm with Zn 2ϩ chelators capacitates hamster sperm (43). An inhibitory effect of Zn 2ϩ on human sperm motility and AR has been observed (44). Our findings indicate a role of Zn 2ϩ as an endogenous cation channel blocker to protect and maintain spermatozoa in a transitory quiescent state.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

A new prostaglandin E receptor mediates calcium influx and acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa

Schaefer

Hofmann

Schultz

et al. 1998

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Zona pellucida protein 3, a protein of the egg's extracellular matrix, and progesterone secreted by granulosa cells surrounding the oocyte are regarded as physiological stimuli of sperm acrosome reaction. Signal transduction steps initiated by both stimuli result in influx of Ca 2؉ from the extracellular space. Herein, we propose a role for prostaglandin (PG) E as a physiological inducer of Ca 2؉ In vivo, ejaculated and epididymal mammalian spermatozoa are not able to fertilize an egg immediately but have to undergo a process of maturation in the female reproductive tract. This time-dependent acquisition of fertilizing capacity called ''capacitation'' is correlated with changes in sperm motility, metabolism, plasma membrane fluidity, and intracellular ion concentrations (1). In capacitated spermatozoa, local stimuli acting in vicinity of the oocyte induce the acrosome reaction (AR), an exocytotic event leading to release of hydrolytic enzymes and substantial reorganization of the sperm plasma membrane (1). To date, two physiological inducers of the AR are known: Subsequent to species-specific binding of sperm to the zona pellucida (ZP), the oocyte's extracellular matrix (2-4), one of the three major proteins forming the mouse ZP, ZP3, elicits the AR (5). Progesterone secreted by ovarian follicular cells surrounding the ovulated egg also initiates the AR (6), and a priming role of the steroid for the induction of the AR by the ZP has been suggested (7).Signal transduction steps in sperm resulting in AR are understood poorly. One of the essential features of the AR is an influx of Ca 2ϩ from the extracellular space required to promote the fusion between the outer acrosomal membrane and the overlying sperm plasma membrane (1). The lack of knowledge on signaling steps leading to Ca 2ϩ influx and AR contrasts with the detailed information about the expression and subcellular localization of classical signal transduction components like G protein-coupled receptors (8), receptor kinases (9), G proteins (10, 11), and effectors such as enzymes (11) and ion channels (12). Thus, the delineation of signaling cascades in sperm is a crucial first step to understand the physiology of fertilization at the molecular level.In the present study, we identified a new role for E prostaglandins as physiological inducers of the AR in humans and provide evidence for the expression of a G protein-coupled E prostanoid (EP) receptor in human sperm. MATERIALS AND METHODSSperm Sample Preparation. Human semen samples were obtained from couples undergoing in vitro fertilization because of female infertility. Sperm samples with normal parameters of sperm count, motility, and morphology were pooled and included in this study. Motile sperm fractions were isolated by a swim-up procedure in hypertonic Biggers Whitten and Whittingham (BWW) medium (for composition, see refs. 13 and 14) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (BWW-FCS). Capacitation was promoted by incubating sperm suspensions (0.5-2 ϫ 10 7 per ml) for 6-8 h at 37°C in a humi...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

A new prostaglandin E receptor mediates calcium influx and acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa

Schaefer

Hofmann

Schultz

et al. 1998

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…There are reports in the literature indicating that presence of zinc in culture medium can inhibit capacitation and acrosome reaction [33,[39][40][41]. On the contrary, the present Fig.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 53%

“…The role of zinc on sperm motility has contradictory reports in the literature. Majority of the studies on human sperm suggest that zinc has inhibitory effect on motility [32,33]. In contrary to these reports, few studies have observed that zinc enhances sperm motility [34,35].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

Addition of zinc to human ejaculate prior to cryopreservation prevents freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage and preserves sperm function

Kotdawala

Kumar

Salian

et al. 2012

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose To study the effect of addition of zinc to human semen sample prior to cryopreservation on post-thaw sperm quality and function. Methods Semen samples were collected from men attending university infertility clinic for semen analysis (n0109). Liquefied semen samples were cryopreserved in glycerol-egg yolkcitrate medium with or without the prior addition of zinc (100 μM) and stored in liquid nitrogen. After 10 days, the semen samples were thawed to assess the outcome. Sperm motility, DNA integrity, mitochondrial potential and the ability of spermatozoa to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction was assessed in post-thaw samples. Results Semen samples cryopreserved after addition of zinc had a significantly higher percentage of sperm with intact DNA (p<0.001), mitochondrial function (p<0.001) and progressive motility (p<0.01) compared to the semen samples cryopreserved without zinc supplementation. Apart from this, ability to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro was significantly higher in semen samples cryopreserved with zinc (p<0.0001 and p<0.001 respectively).Conclusions Addition of zinc to semen samples prior to cryopreservation helps in preventing the freeze-thaw-induced sperm DNA damage and loss of sperm function.

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“…Similarly, in an in vitro study using spermatozoa from fertile men, a high zinc concentration (1 mmol L -1 ) in the culture medium impaired both sperm motility and sperm penetration of ZP-free hamster oocytes [17,18]. Addition of zinc to the culture medium during capacitation of human spermatozoa inhibited spontaneous acrosome reaction (AR) and also the AR induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187 [18]. It is possible that zinc binding to the sperm plasma membrane affects calcium influx through ion competition during capacitation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As conventional semen analysis cannot accurately predict the ability of spermatozoa to bind and penetrate the ZP, spermatozoa-ZP interaction tests using human oocytes are needed to diagnose these spe-500 npg capacitation period [16]. Similarly, in an in vitro study using spermatozoa from fertile men, a high zinc concentration (1 mmol L -1 ) in the culture medium impaired both sperm motility and sperm penetration of ZP-free hamster oocytes [17,18]. Addition of zinc to the culture medium during capacitation of human spermatozoa inhibited spontaneous acrosome reaction (AR) and also the AR induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187 [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between seminal plasma zinc concentration and spermatozoa–zona pellucida binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction in subfertile men

Liu¹,

Sie²,

Zhao³

et al. 2009

Asian J Androl

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The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between seminal zinc concentration and spermatozoazona pellucida (ZP) binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction (ZPIAR) in subfertile men. Semen analyses and seminal zinc concentration assessments were carried out according to the World Health Organization manual for 458 subfertile men. A spermatozoa-ZP interaction test was carried out by incubating 2 × 10 6 motile spermatozoa with a group of four unfertilized oocytes obtained from a clinical in vitro fertilization programme. After 2 h of incubation, the number of spermatozoa bound per ZP and the ZPIAR of ZP-bound spermatozoa were examined. The effect of adding 0.5 mmol L -1 zinc to the media on the ZPIAR of spermatozoa from normozoospermic men was also tested in vitro. Seminal zinc concentration positively correlated with sperm count and duration of abstinence, but negatively correlated with semen volume. On analysis of data from all participants, both spermatozoa-ZP binding and the ZPI-AR were significantly correlated with sperm motility and normal morphology, but not with seminal zinc concentration. However, in men with normozoospermic semen, the seminal zinc concentration was significantly higher in men with defective ZPIAR ( < 16%) than in those with normal ZPIAR ( ≥ 16% ) (P < 0.01). The addition of 0.5 mmol L -1 zinc to the culture media had no effect on spermatozoa-ZP binding, but significantly reduced the ZPIAR in vitro (P < 0.001).In conclusion, seminal zinc concentration is correlated with sperm count and the duration of abstinence in subfertile men. In men with normozoospermic semen, high seminal zinc concentration may have an adverse effect on the ZPIAR.

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Effect of zinc on human sperm motility and the acrosome reaction

Cited by 78 publications

References 33 publications

A new prostaglandin E receptor mediates calcium influx and acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa

A new prostaglandin E receptor mediates calcium influx and acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa

Addition of zinc to human ejaculate prior to cryopreservation prevents freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage and preserves sperm function

Relationship between seminal plasma zinc concentration and spermatozoa–zona pellucida binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction in subfertile men

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