The endocannabinoid system in vertebrate male reproduction: a comparative overview.
Prevailing studies emphasize on endocannabinoid activity in brain. However, sporadic evidences hint that endocannabinoid system controls male reproduction ranging from invertebrates to vertebrates. Although N-arachidonoylethanolamine is described in rat testis, its activity is still poorly known. Type-1 cannabinoid receptor and fatty acid amide hydrolase are particularly expressed in elongating spermatids and spermatozoa suggesting that endocannabinoids affect spermiogenesis and sperm physiology. Aim of this paper is to provide an analysis of the information available in vertebrates on male germ cell progression and sperm maturation mediated by the endocannabinoid system.
Cacciola
Giovanna
G
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. "F. Bottazzi", II Università degli Studi di Napoli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy.
Chioccarelli
Teresa
T
Ricci
Giulia
G
Meccariello
Rosaria
R
Fasano
Silvia
S
Pierantoni
Riccardo
R
Cobellis
Gilda
G
D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000378:metabolism*
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids