title: Emodin inhibits human sperm functions by reducing sperm [Ca(2+)]i and tyrosine phosphorylation.
abstract: Emodin, a bioactive anthraquinone widely used in Chinese traditional medicine, disrupts mouse testicular gene expression in vivo. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of emodin to human sperm in vitro. Different doses of emodin (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400μM) were applied to ejaculated human sperm. The results indicated that 100, 200 and 400μM emodin significantly inhibited the total motility, progressive motility and linear velocity of human sperm. In addition, sperm's ability to penetrate viscous medium together with progesterone induced capacitation and acrosome reaction was also adversely affected by emodin. In contrast, emodin did not affect sperm viability. Furthermore, intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) and tyrosine phosphorylation, which serve as key regulators of sperm function, were dose-dependently reduced by emodin (50-400μM). These results suggest that emodin inhibits human sperm functions by reducing sperm [Ca(2+)]i and suppressing tyrosine phosphorylation in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuan-qiao
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi-qi
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China.
authors.forename: Qian-xing
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, PR China. Electronic address: xuhuizeng@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xu-hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004642:Emodin / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011374:Progesterone; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014443:Tyrosine; D011374:Progesterone; D004642:Emodin; D002118:Calcium
keywords: CatSper; Emodin; Human sperm functions; Progesterone; Tyrosine phosphorylation; [Ca(2+)](i)