title: Selection of High-Quality Spermatozoa May Be Promoted by Activated Vitamin D in the Woman.
abstract: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) and enzymes involved in activation (CYP2R1, CYP27B1) and inactivation (CYP24A1) of vitamin D are expressed in ovary, testes, and spermatozoa.
  
  
  
  Determine responsiveness to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] in spermatozoa from normal and infertile men, and identify the site of exposure and how 1,25(OH)2D3 influences sperm function.
  
  
  
  Spermatozoa expressing VDR, CYP2R1, CYP27B1, and CYP24A1 were analyzed in normal and infertile men. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25(OH)2D3], and 1,25(OH)2D3 were measured in serum, seminal fluid, cervical secretions, and ovarian follicular fluid. 1,25(OH)2D3 was tested on human spermatozoa.
  
  
  
  Tertiary center for fertility.
  
  
  
  Protein expression in spermatozoa and semen quality were assessed in 230 infertile and 114 healthy men. Vitamin D metabolites were measured in fluids from 245 men and 13 women, while 74 oocytes and 17 semen donors were used for sperm-function tests.
  
  
  
  VDR and CYP24A1 expressions in spermatozoa, fluid concentrations of 25-OHD, 24,25(OH)2D3, and 1,25(OH)2D3, and 1,25(OH)2D3-induced effects on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) and sperm-oocyte binding in vitro.
  
  
  
  VDR and CYP24A1 were expressed in a >2-fold higher fraction of spermatozoa from normal than infertile men (P < 0.01). Concentrations of 25-OHD, 24,25(OH)2D, and 1,25(OH)2D3 were undetectable in seminal fluid but high in ovarian follicular fluid. Follicular concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 induced a modest increase in [Ca2+]i and sperm-oocyte binding in vitro (P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Presence of VDR and CYP24A1 mainly in spermatozoa of higher quality supports that 1,25(OH)2D3 available in the female reproductive tract may promote selection of the best gametes for fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.|Division of Bone and Mineral Research, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bøllehuus Hansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.|Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; and.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rehfeld
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Neergaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.
authors.forename: John Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lea Hedegaard
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.|Division of Bone and Mineral Research, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Ida Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Boisen
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.|Division of Bone and Mineral Research, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Li Juel
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.affiliation: Division of Bone and Mineral Research, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lanske
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Almstrup
authors.affiliation: Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Anders Hayden
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anders Nyboe
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.affiliation: Department of Growth and Reproduction.|International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, and.|Division of Bone and Mineral Research, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blomberg Jensen
mesh_terms: D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D000072467:Cytochrome P450 Family 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D065668:Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D014815:Vitamins; D014807:Vitamin D; D015650:24,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D000072467:Cytochrome P450 Family 2; C506833:CYP2R1 protein, human; D053493:Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase; C585549:CYP24A1 protein, human; D065668:Vitamin D3 24-Hydroxylase; D015090:25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 1-alpha-Hydroxylase; C000600378:CYP27B1 protein, human; D002117:Calcitriol; D002118:Calcium