title: Growth hormone or insulin-like growth factor-I extends longevity of equine spermatozoa in vitro.
abstract: Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) are both present in blood plasma and IGF-I has been measured in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma. This study was designed to investigate the direct effects of GH or IGF-I on the motility of mature equine spermatozoa in vitro. We compared the effects of one concentration (100 ng/ml) of recombinant bovine GH (rbGH) and recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) on motility and motion characteristics of equine spermatozoa over a 24 h period. Motility was maintained longer in spermatozoa treated with either rbGH or rhIGF-I during a 24 h period at room temperature (P < 0.05). Spermatozoa motion characteristics at time 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h for both rbGH and rhlGF-I were not significantly different from the respective controls. This study has shown that GH and IGF-I are effective in promoting the in vitro longevity of spermatozoa.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre in Reproductive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. zahrachampion@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zahra J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.forename: Curtis G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Gravance
authors.forename: Bernard H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Breier
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Casey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D006736:Horses; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I