title: Effect of astaxanthin on human sperm capacitation.
abstract: In order to be able to fertilize oocytes, human sperm must undergo a series of morphological and structural alterations, known as capacitation. It has been shown that the production of endogenous sperm reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a key role in causing cells to undergo a massive acrosome reaction (AR). Astaxanthin (Asta), a photo-protective red pigment belonging to the carotenoid family, is recognized as having anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties and is present in many dietary supplements. This study evaluates the effect of Asta in a capacitating buffer which induces low ROS production and low percentages of acrosome-reacted cells (ARC). Sperm cells were incubated in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of Asta or diamide (Diam) and analyzed for their ROS production, Tyr-phosphorylation (Tyr-P) pattern and percentages of ARC and non-viable cells (NVC). Results show that Asta ameliorated both sperm head Tyr-P and ARC values without affecting the ROS generation curve, whereas Diam succeeded in enhancing the Tyr-P level but only of the flagellum without increasing ARC values. It is suggested that Asta can be inserted in the membrane and therefore create capacitation-like membrane alteration which allow Tyr-P of the head. Once this has occurred, AR can take place and involves a higher numbers of cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine-Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donà
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kožuh
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brunati
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrisani
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Guglielmo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonanni
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ragazzi
authors.forename: Decio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armanini
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clari
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bordin
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000328:Adult; D003958:Diamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D024341:Xanthophylls; D003958:Diamide; D014443:Tyrosine; C005948:astaxanthine