Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on the outcome of in vitro fertilization in the mouse.
The effect of three nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors, L-NG-nitro-arginine (NO2Arg), NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and aminoguanidine, on in vitro fertilization in the mouse was examined. Mouse epididymal spermatozoa were capacitated in a medium with or without NO synthase inhibitors. Oocytes were inseminated and the percentage of oocytes with two pronuclei was scored after an 8-h incubation. NO2Arg and L-NAME, but not aminoguanidine, inhibited fertilization. L-NAME inhibited fertilization in a dose-dependent manner, and its effects were stereospecific. The inhibitory effect was neutralized by L-arginine but not by D-arginine. Moreover, D-NAME did not inhibit fertilization. The results suggest that NO synthase activity (presumably of the constitutive type is necessary for spermatozoa to display their full fertilizing ability.
Herrero
M B
MB
Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Viggiano
J M
JM
Pérez Martínez
S
S
de Gimeno
M F
MF
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013075:Sperm Capacitation
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006146:Guanidines; D019335:Nitroarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C004479:pimagedine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester