Skip Navigation



Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on October 28, 2004
Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/humrep/deh566
© 2004 by European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF ) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
20/1/198    most recent
deh566v1
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Adeoya-Osiguwa, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Fraser, L. R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Adeoya-Osiguwa, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Fraser, L. R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Received June 10, 2004
Revised July 27, 2004
Accepted September 20, 2004

Article

Cathine and norephedrine, both phenylpropanolamines, accelerate capacitation and then inhibit spontaneous acrosome loss

Susan A. Adeoya-Osiguwa 1 and Lynn R. Fraser 1*

1 Centre for Reproduction Endocrinology and Diabetes School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Lynn R. Fraser, E-mail: lynn.fraser{at}kcl.ac.uk


  Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cathinone, released when Catha edulis leaves (khat) are chewed, has euphoric, stimulatory properties. It is metabolized to the phenylpropanolamines (PPAs) cathine and norephedrine. This study investigated whether PPAs affect mammalian sperm function, using primarily mouse, but also human, spermatozoa. METHODS: Uncapacitated sperm suspensions were treated with cathine, norephedrine, adrenaline and noradrenaline, then assessed using chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence. Cathine and adrenaline were also evaluated using in vitro fertilization. Capacitated suspensions were treated with PPAs±progesterone and±pertussis toxin. Finally, cAMP production was evaluated in uncapacitated and capacitated suspensions. RESULTS: In uncapacitated mouse spermatozoa, cathine, norephedrine, adrenaline and noradrenaline all significantly accelerated capacitation; uncapacitated human spermatozoa responded similarly to cathine. Consistent with these results, cathine- and adrenaline-treated suspensions were significantly more fertile than controls. In capacitated spermatozoa, both PPAs inhibited spontaneous acrosome reactions (ARs) but progesterone could over-ride this inhibition. Pertussis toxin abolished cathine's inhibition of ARs, suggesting G protein involvement. Finally, cathine and adrenaline significantly stimulated cAMP production in uncapacitated suspensions, but significantly inhibited it in capacitated suspensions. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first demonstration that PPAs can directly affect mammalian sperm function, accelerating capacitation and inhibiting spontaneous ARs. These responses correlated with initial stimulation and subsequent inhibition of cAMP production. Adrenaline/noradrenaline elicited similar responses, suggesting the presence of adrenergic receptors. Therefore, regulation of adenylyl cyclase/cAMP in a G protein-mediated fashion by PPAs may possibly involve adrenergic receptors. These results suggest that PPAs, at appropriate doses, might provide a novel approach to enhance natural fertility.

Keywords: adrenaline; adrenergic receptors; cAMP; capacitation; G proteins.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
A. R. Ramirez, M. A. Castro, C. Angulo, L. Ramio, M. M. Rivera, M. Torres, T. Rigau, J. E. Rodriguez-Gil, and I. I. Concha
The Presence and Function of Dopamine Type 2 Receptors in Boar Sperm: A Possible Role for Dopamine in Viability, Capacitation, and Modulation of Sperm Motility
Biol Reprod, April 1, 2009; 80(4): 753 - 761.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ReproductionHome page
F. Qu, X. Ying, W. Guo, Q. Guo, G. Chen, Y. Liu, and Z. Ding
The role of Zn-{alpha}2 glycoprotein in sperm motility is mediated by changes in cyclic AMP
Reproduction, October 1, 2007; 134(4): 569 - 576.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
S.A. Adeoya-Osiguwa and L. R. Fraser
Cathine, an amphetamine-related compound, acts on mammalian spermatozoa via beta1- and {alpha}2A-adrenergic receptors in a capacitation state-dependent manner
Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2007; 22(3): 756 - 765.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
S. A Adeoya-Osiguwa, R. Gibbons, and L. R. Fraser
Identification of functional {alpha}2- and beta-adrenergic receptors in mammalian spermatozoa
Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2006; 21(6): 1555 - 1563.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
L. R. Fraser, E. Beyret, S. R. Milligan, and S. A. Adeoya-Osiguwa
Effects of estrogenic xenobiotics on human and mouse spermatozoa
Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2006; 21(5): 1184 - 1193.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
S. M. Schuh, A. E. Carlson, G. S. McKnight, M. Conti, B. Hille, and D. F. Babcock
Signaling Pathways for Modulation of Mouse Sperm Motility by Adenosine and Catecholamine Agonists
Biol Reprod, March 1, 2006; 74(3): 492 - 500.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.