Progesterone enhances prostaglandin E2 production via interaction with nitric oxide in the mouse acrosome reaction.
In the present study we evidenced that progesterone could directly stimulate sperm nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in capacitated mouse spermatozoa. This stimulation led to an increase in sperm prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and subsequent acrosomal exocytosis. However, cGMP levels were not modified during the progesterone-induced acrosome reaction under our experimental conditions. These results suggest a functional role for nitric oxide as an intracellular messenger through, at least, stimulation of PGE2 production during the acrosome reaction triggered by progesterone.
Herrero
M B
MB
Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO-CONICET), Serrano 669, Buenos Aires, 1414, Argentina. herrerob@hotmail.com
Cebral
E
E
Franchi
A
A
Motta
A
A
Gimeno
M F
MF
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D002956:Citrulline / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011374:Progesterone; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D015232:Dinoprostone; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester