title: Expression and immunolocalization of the mu-opioid receptor in human sperm cells.
abstract: The expression of the mu-opioid receptor in human sperm cells was investigated by immunocytochemistry and immunoblot analyses. Results demonstrated that the receptor is localized on the acrosomal region and the neck portion of the sperm head. These results suggest a possible role for the mu-opioid receptor in mediating the action of endogenous opioid peptides on sperm cells during the complex and poorly characterized cellular events that enable spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy. m.albrizio@veterinaria.uniba.it <m.albrizio@veterinaria.uniba.it>
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albrizio
authors.forename: Antonio Ciro
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guaricci
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calamita
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrilli
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Minoia
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu