Angiotensin-converting enzyme content of human spermatozoa and its release during capacitation.
In this study, we demonstrated, by using known detergents, the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) within human spermatozoa. We determined that maximal angiotensin-converting activity is expressed by sperm incubated in capacitating conditions, whereas this activity is negligible in saline-incubated spermatozoa. We further demonstrated that not acrosomes but cytoplasmic residues contain ACE. Because follicular fluid provides the necessary conditions for a maximal angiotensin-converting activity and for capacitations' metabolic activation, we hypothesize that ACE may play its physiologic role within the female reproductive tract.
D000328:Adult; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000032:analysis*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*; D013997:Time Factors
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A