Differential effects of pharmacologically generated reactive oxygen species upon functional activity of epididymal mouse spermatozoa.
Several studies indicate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in defective sperm function pathophysiology. In this study we attempted to determine differentially the effects of xanthine (0.12 mM) plus xanthine oxidase (0.035 U/mL) (X+XO, a ROS promoter system), ROS scavengers (Tiron (TIR, 15 mM); catalase (CAT, 10 micrograms/mL); dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO, 140 mM)), and X+XO plus scavengers on several epididymal mouse spermatozoa functional parameters, incubated in NTPC medium, for 29 min. In the presence of X+XO, progressive gametes significantly diminished. TIR or CAT attenuated this effect, but DMSO did not. Inversely, X+XO increased the bending-forms population; only TIR reversed this phenomenon. The ROS promoter system diminished the viable cell population; all scavengers assayed maintained sperm viability at levels similar to control ones. When exposed to hypoosmotic shock after 29 min incubation with X+XO, the percentage of swollen cells decreased; TIR, CAT, or DMSO did not prevent this effect. Our experiments demonstrate that it is possible to differentiate the deleterious ROS effects upon sperm functional activity. O-2. and H2O2 preferentially seem to modify sperm motility, O-2. exhibiting the greatest ability for generating bending-form gametes, OH-being the most lethal ROS. In addition, sperm membrane clearly appears as the most damaged structure.
Baiardi
G
G
Instituto de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Santa Rosa, Argentina.
Ruiz
R D
RD
Fiol de Cuneo
M
M
Ponce
A A
AA
Lacuara
J L
JL
Vincenti
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019820:Xanthine; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D014970:Xanthines / Q000494:pharmacology
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014970:Xanthines; D019820:Xanthine; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase