Effect of Astaxanthin on Human Sperm Capacitation |
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| Authors: | Gabriella Donà Ivana Ko?uh Anna Maria Brunati Alessandra Andrisani Guido Ambrosini Guglielmo Bonanni Eugenio Ragazzi Decio Armanini Giulio Clari Luciana Bordin |
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| Institution: | 1.Department of Molecular Medicine-Biological Chemistry, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; E-Mails: (G.D.); (I.K.); (A.M.B.); (G.C.);2.Department of Women’s and Chilren’s Health, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; E-Mails: (A.A.); (G.A.);3.Department of Medicine—Endocrinology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; E-Mails: (G.B.); (D.A.);4.Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy; E-Mail: |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | human sperm astaxanthin Tyr-phosphorylation acrosome reaction |
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