Effect of endogenous steroids on the human sperm physiology

VARGAS S; HÄRTEL S; MAYORGA LS; ARGUMEDO, M; CASTAÑEDA V; SOSA C; JUSTRIBÓ G; GARCÍA A; ARIAS R; DE BLAS GA

Merlo. San Luis

Congreso; XXXV Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2017

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Steroid hormones control fundamental organism functions such as development, metabolism, inflammation, ion homeostasis, and reproduction. The modulation of ion channel functions by steroid hormones has been reported in the heart, neurons, smooth muscle and pancreatic beta. The hormone progesterone active the calcium channel of sperm -CatSper-. This channel is vital for sperm function (the hyperactivity of sperm flagellum, chemotaxis towards the egg, capacitation and acrosome reaction). However, steroid specificity on human sperm has not been evaluated. Here, we explored whether steroid hormones have any effect on [Ca2+]i, motility and acrosome reaction in human sperm. We used real time assay with temporal resolution for sperm [Ca2+]i measurements ? cell population ? and fluorescente calcium sensors. To asses this, capacitated human sperm were loaded with Fluo3-AM, then incubated in a calcium medium and treated 15 minutes with progesterone [15µM] (control,) and different steroids (Pregnenolone sulfate and pregnenolone, [15µM]). We also tested them in assays acrosomal reaction with FITC-PSA lectin and sperm motility with the computerized system (CEDAI). Our results indicate that all steroids exerted similar effects as progesterone in sperm physiology.