title: Epigallocatechin gallate affects survival and metabolism of human sperm.
abstract: METHODS
  Green tea and its major constituent epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been extensively studied as potential treatment for a variety of diseases. We assessed the influence of EGCG on male fertilizing potential by analyzing different features of human sperm involved in capacitation process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using human normozoospermic samples, we evaluated the effect of EGCG (2 μM, 20 μM, 60 μM) on sperm activities. Our results showed that lower doses of EGCG (from 2 to 20 μM) increased cholesterol efflux and tyrosine phosphorylation through the estrogen receptor (ER), since ICI 182,780, a specific ER antagonist, abrogated 20 μM EGCG effects. Besides, we evidenced that EGCG at similar concentrations, increased sperm motility, viability, and phosphorylation of proteins controlling cell survival such as Bcl2, Akt, and Src, via ER. Furthermore, we observed reduction of triglycerides content, induction of lipase, as well as the G6PDH activity. These results address to an increase in energy expenditure. On the contrary, treatment of 60 μM EGCG produced opposite effects that still appear after ICI cotreatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide a novel mechanism involving ERs through which low doses of EGCG exerted benefits to sperm physiology, also detected data evidence the adverse action of high EGCG concentrations probably related to its prooxidant and antiestrogenic potential.
authors.affiliation: Centro Sanitario, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Amicis
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guido
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Saveria
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aquila
mesh_terms: D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D019061:src-Family Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013662:Tea; D014280:Triglycerides; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D014443:Tyrosine; D004958:Estradiol; D002392:Catechin; D002784:Cholesterol; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D019061:src-Family Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D005947:Glucose