Astaxanthin Improves Human Sperm Capacitation by Inducing Lyn Displacement and Activation

Abstract

Astaxanthin (Asta), a photo-protective red pigment of the carotenoid family, is known for its multiple beneficial properties. In this study, the effects of Asta on isolated human sperm were evaluated. Capacitation involves a series of transformations to let sperm acquire the correct features for potential oocyte fertilization, including the generation of a controlled amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cholesterol depletion of the sperm outer membrane, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr-P) process in the head region. Volunteers, with normal spermiogram values, were divided in two separate groups on the basis of their ability to generate the correct content of endogenous ROS. Both patient group (PG) and control group (CG) were analysed for Tyr-phosphorylation (Tyr-P) pattern and percentages of acrosome-reacted cells (ARC) and non-viable cells (NVC), in the presence or absence of Asta. In addition, the involvement of ROS on membrane reorganization and the presence of Lyn, a Src family kinase associated with lipid rafts, were investigated. Results show that Lyn is present in the membranes of human sperm, mainly confined in midpiece in resting conditions. Following capacitation, Lyn translocated to the head concomitantly with raft relocation, thus allowing the Tyr-P of head proteins. Asta succeeded to trigger Lyn translocation in PG sperm thus bypassing the impaired ROS-related mechanism for rafts and Lyn translocation. In this study, we showed an interdependence between ROS generation and lipid rafts and Lyn relocation leading the cells to undergo the successive acrosome reaction (AR). Asta, by ameliorating PG sperm functioning, may be utilised to decrease male idiopathic infertility.

Marine natural products

“…508 By combining virtual-and structure-based ligand screening approaches, a database of >100 caulerpin analogues was efficiently evaluated in silico for potential inhibitory activity against monoamine oxidase B, 509 while astaxanthin and other algal carotenoids have been the focus of many studies and reviews. [510][511][512][513][514][515][516][517][518]…”

Effect of Astaxanthin, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C in Combination with Calorie Restriction on Sperm Quality and Quantity in Male Rats

“…This carotenoid has a greater antioxidant activity than other carotenoids because of the hydroxyl and ketonic end groups located on the ionone rings of its chemical structure (Guerin, Huntley, & Olaizola, 2003). Reportedly, astaxanthin improves human sperm capacitation by increasing its activation (Andrisani et al, 2015). However, astaxanthin is highly susceptible to oxygen, light, and auto-oxidation (Vasantha, Rupasinghe, & Yasmin, 2010).…”

The effects ofN-acetyl-l-cysteine on the female reproductive performance and nephrotoxicity in rats

“…9 Many recent studies considered statins as the potential therapeutic agent for a targeted conservative treatment of female gonadal function, fertility 10 endometriosis in humans 11 and reduced mortality among women affected by endometrial/ovarian malignancies. 12 Whereas Andrisani et al 13 found Astaxanthin (Asta), a photo-protective red pigment of the carotenoid family, utilized to decrease male idiopathic infertility. Studies from the authors' laboratory have demonstrated that insufficient local concentrations of glutathione may predispose tubular cells to damage by locally produced chloroacetaldehyde.…”