title: The nitric oxide synthase of mouse spermatozoa.
abstract: Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was evidenced in mature mouse spermatozoa by means of biochemical techniques and Western blot. During 120 min of incubation, 10(7) spermatozoa synthesized 7 +/- 2 pmol of L-[14C]citrulline. Besides, L-citrulline formation depended on the incubation time and on the concentration of L-arginine present in the incubation medium. Different concentrations of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) but not aminoguanidine, inhibited L-[14C]citrulline formation. Western-blot analysis of solubilized sperm proteins revealed a unique band of M(r)=140 kDa with the neural, endothelial and inducible NOS antisera tested. These results provide evidence that mature mouse sperm contains a NOS isoform and that spermatozoa have the potential ability to synthesize NO, suggesting a role for endogenous NO on mammalian sperm function.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Farmacólogicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Buenos Aires,Argentina.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Goin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boquet
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Canteros
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perez Martinez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Viggiano
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gimeno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002956:Citrulline / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase