Evidence of 5-HT components in human sperm: Implications for protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the physiology of motility

Francisco Jimeńez-Trejo, Miguel Tapia-Rodriǵuez, Marco Cerboń, Donald M. Kuhn, Gabriel Manjarrez-Gutieŕrez, C. Adriana Mendoza-Rodríguez, Ofir Picazo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; C10H12N2O (5-HT)) is produced in the CNS and in some cells of peripheral tissues. In the mammalian male reproductive system, both 5-HT and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) have been described in Leydig cells of the testis and in principal cells of the caput epididymis. In capacitated hamster sperm, it has been shown that 5-HT promotes the acrosomal reaction. The aim of this work was to explore the existence of components of the serotoninergic system and their relevance in human sperm physiology. We used both immunocytochemistry and western blot to detect serotoninergic markers such as 5-HT, TPH1, MAOA, 5-HT 1B, 5-HT3, and 5HTT; HPLC for TPH enzymatic activity; Computer Assisted Semen Analysis assays to measure sperm motility parameters and pharmacological approaches to show the effect of 5-HT in sperm motility and tyrosine phosphorylation was assessed by western blot. We found the presence of serotoninergic markers (5-HT, TPH1, MAOA, 5-HT 1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT3, 5-HTT, and TPH enzymatic activity) in human sperm. In addition, we observed a significant increase in tyrosine phosphorylation and changes in sperm motility after 5-HT treatment. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the existence of components of a serotoninergic system in human sperm and support the notion for a functional role of 5-HT in mammalian sperm physiology, which can be modulated pharmacologically.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)677-685
Number of pages9
JournalReproduction
Volume144
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

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