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Effect of norethisterone and its A‐ring reduced metabolites on the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa
Author(s) -
Martinez G.,
Zayas H.,
Ducolomb Y.,
Garcia G. A.,
Betancourt M.,
Castro I.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0272.2002.00506.x
Subject(s) - acrosome reaction , norethisterone , capacitation , andrology , sperm , chemistry , semen , medicine , endocrinology , progestin , in vitro , biology , hormone , biochemistry , population , research methodology , environmental health
Summary. The synthetic progestin, norethisterone (NET), has been reported as a contragestational postcoital agent in humans, rodents and rabbits. The effect and molecular mechanisms of NET and its A‐ring reduced metabolites, 5α‐NET and 3β5α‐NET, on the acrosome reaction (AR) are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of these compounds on an in vitro progesterone‐induced AR in porcine spermatozoa. The spermatozoa were obtained from semen ejaculated by proven fertile adult pigs. Seminal plasma removed and incubated under capacitating conditions was performed in TALP‐Hepes medium for 4 h. Progesterone (P 4 ) and three different progestins: norethisterone (NET), 5α‐norethisterone (5α‐NET) and 3β5α‐NET were then added at equimolar doses, and the spermatozoa were incubated for 15 min. Double‐staining with PSA‐FITC and Hoechst‐33258 assessed the AR and sperm viability. Both P 4 and NET induced the AR, while 5α‐NET not only did not induce this process, but was able to block the effect of P 4 on the spermatozoa. 3β5α‐NET was not able to inhibit P 4 action. These results suggest that NET and its A‐ring reduced metabolites act in different ways on the progesterone‐induced AR in porcine spermatozoa.