title: Effects of nitric oxide on human spermatozoa activity, fertilization and mouse embryonic development.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on human sperm activity, human sperm-oocyte fusion and mouse embryonic development. Results showed that various concentrations of NO synthase blocker, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, did not affect sperm cell motility at 0, 1, 2 or 4 hr, respectively. In contrast, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) significantly inhibited sperm cell motility and caused apoptosis. The adversely dose-dependent effect was only observed if SNP was freshly prepared. Adenosine triphosphate reversed the hazardous effect of SNP on sperm activity/viability. Hemoglobin neutralized the adverse effect of SNP. In hemi-zona sperm fusion test, the number of sperm bound to the zona in the presence of 10(-4) M SNP was significantly less than the control group. SNP at 10(-4) M caused all mouse embryonic development arrest. 46% and 56% of zygote reached the blastocyst stage with the treatment of 10(-6) M and 10(-8) M SNP, respectively, while the control reached 70%. NO adversely affected human sperm activity, human sperm-zona binding and embryonic development. It would appear that high concentration of NO may potentially decrease fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sin-Lau Christian Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: T-P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: B-M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: M-C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: M-Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate