title: Relationship between seminal plasma levels of anandamide congeners palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide and semen quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether changes in seminal plasma concentrations of the endogenous lipid signaling molecules palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) have significant effects on sperm quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biochemical and physiological studies of human seminal plasma and spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary care medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety men attending an infertility clinic for semen analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Palmitoylethanolamide and OEA extracted from seminal plasma were quantified by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry. Patient sperm from semen with normal parameters were exposed in vitro to PEA or OEA to determine effects on sperm motility, viability, and mitochondrial activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relationship between seminal plasma concentrations of PEA and OEA and sperm quality and the effect of these compounds on sperm motility, viability, and mitochondria activity in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Palmitoylethanolamide and OEA concentrations in seminal plasma were lower in men with asthenozoospermia and oligoasthenoteratozospermia compared with men with normal semen parameters. Palmitoylethanolamide and OEA rapidly and significantly improved sperm motility and maintained viability without affecting mitochondria activity in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maintenance of normal PEA and OEA tone in human seminal plasma may be necessary for the preservation of normal sperm function and male fertility. Exocannabinoids found in Cannabis, such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, could compete with these endocannabinoids upsetting their finely balanced, normal functioning and resulting in male reproductive failure.
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom. Electronic address: akwasi.amoako@leedsth.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Akwasi Atakora
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amoako
authors.affiliation: Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Health Protection Agency, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Timothy Hywel
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Marczylo
authors.affiliation: London Women's Clinic, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elson
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anthony Henry
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jonathon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Willets
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Reproductive Science Section, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Justin Chi
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Konje
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008875:Middle Aged; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000737:chemistry; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D009829:Oleic Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; C488250:oleoylethanolamide; C005958:palmidrol; C078814:anandamide
keywords: Palmitoylethanolamide; anandamide; endocannabinoid system; oleoylethanolamide; seminal plasma