Effects of polyamines upon capacitation and fertilization in the guinea pig

Abstract

The effects of polyamines upon the ability of guinea pig spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction and upon sperm-egg fusion were investigated. All of the polyamines (polyarginines and compound 48/80) stimulated the occurrence of the acrosome reaction, although differences in the duration of the preincubation period required were noted. The stimulatory effect of the polyarginines could not be reversed by washing, while that of 48/80 was abolished by its removal prior to induction of the acrosome reaction. Polyarginine-treated spermatozoa were fully capable of fertilizing intact guinea pig eggs. In contrast, 48/80 completely blocked sperm-egg fusion at only 5-10 micrograms/ml. This inhibition was reversible by washing either treated gamete. The ability of polyamines which may also be present at the time and site of fertilization, in vivo, to inhibit or stimulate gamete functions or interactions is discussed.

Role of spermine in mammalian sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction

“…In spermatozoa, spermine was found to enhance the glycolytic rate [3], adenylate cyclase [4] and ATPase [5] and to inhibit phosphodiesterase [6]. Furthermore, binding of spermatozoa to oocytes [7,8] was affected by polyamines. The acrosome reaction was stimulated by the polyamines polyarginine and compound 48/80 [8], whereas another polyamine, neomycin, inhibited the acrosome reaction [9].…”

“…Furthermore, binding of spermatozoa to oocytes [7,8] was affected by polyamines. The acrosome reaction was stimulated by the polyamines polyarginine and compound 48/80 [8], whereas another polyamine, neomycin, inhibited the acrosome reaction [9]. Spermine and other polyamines serve as natural acceptor amines for seminal transglutaminase action, thus attenuating protein cross-linking and premature clotting of the ejaculate [10].…”

Metabolomic profiling of female mink serum during early to mid-pregnancy to understand factors associated with embryo diapause

“…[14,20]. While polyamines are essential to folliculogenesis [21], fertilization [22], and early embryo development [23,24], deficiency of polyamines causes embryo developmental arrest [9]. Most amino acids existed at greater levels on D1 than on D8, D15, D22, and D29 demonstrating that amino acids may induce an increase of polyamines via the mTOR pathway.…”

Effects of polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors on the progesterone‐initiated increase in intracellular free Ca2+ and acrosome reactions in human sperm

“…There have been several previous reports of effects of polyamines on the acrosome reaction. The synthetic compounds polyarginine and compound 40180 stimu-lated guinea pig sperm capacitation and therefore the AR (Fleming and Armstrong, 1985), but Rubinstein and Breitbart (1991) reported that the naturally occurring spermine and spermidine, known to be present in mammalian seminal plasma, inhibited the ram sperm AR at millimolar concentrations. However, the latter results require confirmation since the AR assays in the ram sperm studies were based on assays of acrosin activity, and the conversion of human or porcine proacrosin to acrosin can be inhibited by polyamines (Parrish et al, 1979).…”