title: Beneficial effects of α-tocopherol against intracellular calcium overload in human sperm.
abstract: Calcium (Ca(2+)) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) constitute the most influential intracellular signaling molecules participating in the regulation of different sperm functions. Elevating intracellular Ca(2+) and ROS in physiologic range regulate capacitation, motility, acrosome reaction, and sperm-oocyte fusion; whereas cytosolic Ca(2+) overload and ROS overproduction have pathologic effects. Our aim of this study was determination of antioxidant effects of α-tocopherol on sperm motility, viability, and DNA integrity in a condition where cytosolic calcium overload was induced by A23187 (a calcium ionophore). Our results indicated that, α-tocopherol has ability to prevent sperm mortality and save sperm rapid motility after 1 hour incubation. At the same time, A23187 reduced significantly percentage of rapid sperm motility and increased sperm mortality and DNA damage. Results of sperms incubation in the medium contain a combination of A23187 and α-tocopherol showed that α-tocopherol can reduce many of the deleterious effects of A23187. In conclusion, it seems that the harmful effects of A23187 are due to excessive ROS production, and α-tocopherol neutralizes these effects.
authors.affiliation: Medical school, Shiraz University of medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. fanaeih@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fanaei
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keshtgar
authors.forename: Soghra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahmanpour
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghannadi
authors.forename: Marjane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kazeroni
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D061207:Calcium Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D061207:Calcium Ionophores; D000001:Calcimycin; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D002118:Calcium