title: Effect of anion channel blockers on L-arginine action in spermatozoa from asthenospermic men.
abstract: In earlier studies, we have established that l-arginine enhances motility and metabolic rate in spermatozoa of goat, bull and mouse. In the present study this work was extended to human sperm cells obtained from the semen samples of asthenospermic patients, which are characterised by low motility. The metabolic rate was followed by monitoring the glucose consumption (1-(13)C glucose as substrate) and the production of lactate in sperm cells, using (13)C NMR. The stimulatory effect of l-arginine was neutralised on adding an NO-synthase inhibitor like N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. On the other hand, the inactive d-enantiomorph did not affect the stimulatory effect of l-arginine. This strongly suggests that L-arginine acts through the NO signal pathway. We also demonstrated that the stimulatory effect of L-arginine was inhibited in the presence of anion channel inhibitors like 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. Furthermore, bicarbonate supplementation was found to be essential for the action of L-arginine. These observations indicate that L-arginine induces NO synthesis and stimulates motility and metabolism only when an active anion transport system is present.
authors.affiliation: National Facility for High Field NMR, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India. sudha@tifr.res.in
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D019297:2,4-Dinitrophenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000378:metabolism*; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone; D001120:Arginine; D019297:2,4-Dinitrophenol; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester