|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Home Help Feedback Subscriptions Archive Search Table of Contents | |||||
First published online 6 September 2005
doi: 10.1242/jcs.02536
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Research Article |
1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Pizza A. Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy
2 Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: mmaccarrone{at}unite.it)
Accepted 9 June 2005
Anandamide (AEA) is the endogenous ligand of cannabinoid (CB) receptors, and as such it plays several central and peripheral activities. Regulation of female fertility by AEA has attracted growing interest, yet a role for this endocannabinoid in controlling sperm function and male fertility in mammals has been scarcely investigated. In this study we report unprecedented evidence that boar sperm cells have the biochemical machinery to bind and degrade AEA, i.e. type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R), vanilloid receptors (TRPV1), AEA-synthesizing phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), AEA transporter (AMT) and AEA hydrolase (FAAH). We also show that the non-hydrolyzable AEA analogue methanandamide reduces sperm capacitation and, as a consequence, inhibits the process of acrosome reaction (AR) triggered by the zona pellucida, according to a cyclic AMP-dependent pathway triggered by CB1R activation. Furthermore, activation of TRPV1 receptors seems to play a role of stabilization of the plasma membranes in capacitated sperm, as demonstrated by the high incidence of spontaneous AR occurring during the cultural period when TRPV1 activity was antagonized by capsazepine. We show that sperm cells have a complete and efficient endocannabinoid system, and that activation of cannabinoid or vanilloid receptors controls, at different time-points, sperm functions required for fertilization. These observations open new perspectives on the understanding and treatment of male fertility problems.
Key words: Anandamide, Cannabinoid receptor, Cyclic AMP, Metabolism, Vanilloid receptor, Zona pellucida
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M.Y. Turco, K. Matsukawa, M. Czernik, V. Gasperi, N. Battista, L. Della Salda, P.A. Scapolo, P. Loi, M. Maccarrone, and G. Ptak High levels of anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid, block the growth of sheep preimplantation embryos by inducing apoptosis and reversible arrest of cell proliferation Hum. Reprod., July 9, 2008; (2008) den258v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Centonze, M. Bari, S. Rossi, C. Prosperetti, R. Furlan, F. Fezza, V. De Chiara, L. Battistini, G. Bernardi, S. Bernardini, et al. The endocannabinoid system is dysregulated in multiple sclerosis and in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis Brain, October 1, 2007; 130(10): 2543 - 2553. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A.H. Taylor, C. Ang, S.C. Bell, and J.C. Konje The role of the endocannabinoid system in gametogenesis, implantation and early pregnancy Hum. Reprod. Update, September 1, 2007; 13(5): 501 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Nucci, V. Gasperi, R. Tartaglione, A. Cerulli, A. Terrinoni, M. Bari, C. De Simone, A. F. Agro, L. A. Morrone, M. T. Corasaniti, et al. Involvement of the Endocannabinoid System in Retinal Damage after High Intraocular Pressure-Induced Ischemia in Rats Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2007; 48(7): 2997 - 3004. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Rossi, V. Gasperi, R. Paro, D. Barsacchi, S. Cecconi, and M. Maccarrone Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Activates Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase by Protein Kinase A and Aromatase-Dependent Pathways in Mouse Primary Sertoli Cells Endocrinology, March 1, 2007; 148(3): 1431 - 1439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 X.-H. Jin, Y. Okamoto, J. Morishita, K. Tsuboi, T. Tonai, and N. Ueda Discovery and Characterization of a Ca2+-independent Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Acyltransferase Generating the Anandamide Precursor and Its Congeners J. Biol. Chem., February 9, 2007; 282(6): 3614 - 3623. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Agirregoitia, A. Valdivia, A. Carracedo, L. Casis, J. Gil, N. Subiran, C. Ochoa, and J. Irazusta Expression and Localization of {delta}-, {kappa}-, and {micro}-Opioid Receptors in Human Spermatozoa and Implications for Sperm Motility J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 4969 - 4975. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Wang, S. K. Dey, and M. Maccarrone Jekyll and Hyde: Two Faces of Cannabinoid Signaling in Male and Female Fertility Endocr. Rev., August 1, 2006; 27(5): 427 - 448. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Cobellis, G. Cacciola, D. Scarpa, R. Meccariello, R. Chianese, M. F. Franzoni, K. Mackie, R. Pierantoni, and S. Fasano Endocannabinoid System in Frog and Rodent Testis: Type-1 Cannabinoid Receptor and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Activity in Male Germ Cells Biol Reprod, July 1, 2006; 75(1): 82 - 89. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Wang, Y. Okamoto, J. Morishita, K. Tsuboi, A. Miyatake, and N. Ueda Functional Analysis of the Purified Anandamide-generating Phospholipase D as a Member of the Metallo-beta-lactamase Family J. Biol. Chem., May 5, 2006; 281(18): 12325 - 12335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
