Expression and Localization of δ-, κ-, and μ-Opioid Receptors in Human Spermatozoa and Implications for Sperm Motility

Agirregoitia, Ekaitz; Valdivia, Asier; Carracedo, Arkaitz; Casis, Luı́s; Gil, Javier; Subirán, Nerea; Ochoa, Carmen; Irazusta, Jon

doi:10.1210/jc.2006-0599

Cited by 89 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The presence of three types of opioid receptors (MOR, DOR and KOR) on human sperm membranes (64,65) (Figure 3) indicates that EOPs may contribute to the regulation of human reproductive function by means of a direct effect on sperm. In addition to these opioid receptors, leuenkephalin, metenkephalin and β-endorphin immunoreactivity has been detected in spermatozoa (66; Subirán, unpublished data, 2011), and immunoreactivity to a variety of PENK products was found in the acrosome region (67).…”

Section: Regulation Of Sperm Fertility By the Opioid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MOR and KOR transcripts have been detected in mature sperm by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), whereas DOR mRNA was absent (64). Selective RNA degradation was reported in human semen, in which specific RNA populations appear to be protected.…”

Section: Regulation Of Sperm Fertility By the Opioid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the function of RNA in spermatozoa is currently unknown, the following functions for this RNA have been suggested: (a) to facilitate chromatin packing; (b) a role in gene imprinting; (c) to be translated into proteins by mitochondrial polysomes; (d) involvement in the activation of the zygote during early development; and (e) to establish spatial cues in the developing embryo (73,74). However, the three types of opioid receptors (DOR, MOR and KOR) are present in the membranes of sperm cells (64), suggesting that opioid receptors may be expressed during spermatogenesis, although opioid receptors are found exclusively in Sertoli cells in rats (45). Future experiments should focus on characterizing the expression and activation of opioid receptors during spermatogenesis and the function of opioid receptor transcripts in mature sperm.…”

Section: Regulation Of Sperm Fertility By the Opioid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regulation of Male Fertility by the Opioid System

Subirán

Casis

Irazusta

2011

Mol Med

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Section: Regulation Of Sperm Fertility By the Opioid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Regulation Of Sperm Fertility By the Opioid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Regulation Of Sperm Fertility By the Opioid Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regulation of Male Fertility by the Opioid System

Subirán

Casis

Irazusta

2011

Mol Med

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“…For instance, DPPIV and POP activities were also highly expressed in PR and SP of C. d. terrificus respectively. Considering their known hydrolytic effects over endorphin-2 and enkephalin, respectively (Barret et al 1998), and the fact that endogenous opioid peptides seem to have a marked role in seminal physiology (O'Hara et al 1994, Agirregoitia et al 2006, DPPIV and POP activities may have a relevant role in seminal physiology of C. d. terrificus.…”

Section: Rattlesnake Seminal Peptidasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peptidase activities in Crotalus durissus terrificus semen

Marinho

Almeida‐Santos²,

Carneiro³

et al. 2008

Reproduction

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To understand the role of peptidases in seminal physiology of Crotalus durissus terrificus, activity levels of representative enzymes in semen and their sensitivities to inhibitors, cofactors, and peptide hormones were evaluated. The existence of seminal fractions and the association of peptidases with these fractions were also characterized for the first time in snakes. The prominent inhibitors of aminopeptidases (APs) were amastatin for acid, basic, and neutral; bestatin for basic; and diprotin A for dipeptidyl-IV. Cystyl and prolylimino APs were similarly susceptible to the majority of these inhibitors. The basic and neutral were characterized as metallo-peptidases, acid AP was activated by MnCl 2 , and cystyl, prolyl-imino, and type I pyroglutamyl were characterized as sulphydryl-dependent APs. Angiotensin II, vasotocin, bradykinin, fertilization-promoting peptide, and TRH altered the majority of these peptidase activities; these peptides are possible substrates and/or modulators of these peptidases. Peptidase activities were found in all seminal fractions: seminal plasma (SP), prostasome-like (PR) structures, and soluble (S-) and membrane-bound fractions (MFs) of spermatozoa. The levels of activity of each peptidase varied among different seminal fractions. In SP, the higher activities were puromycin-insensitive neutral and basic APs. In PR, the higher activity was puromycin-insensitive neutral AP. In spermatozoa, the higher activity in subcellular SF was puromycinsensitive neutral, while in MF both puromycin-sensitive and -insensitive neutral APs were equally higher than the other examined peptidases. Data suggested that these peptidases, mainly basic and neutral, have a high relevance in regulating seminal functions of C. d. terrificus. Reproduction (2008) 136 767-776

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“…Here they have a role in regulating a wide variety of physiological functions, which include but are not limited to nociception, the control of respiration, thermoregulation, the immune response and hormone secretion (Bodnar, 2008). The existence of both endogenous peptides and opioid receptors in non-neural peripheral sites in animal (Tang et al, 1982;Zhu and Pintar, 1998;Barron, 2000;Denning et al, 2008) and human tissues (Sastry et al, 1980;Belisle et al, 1988;Agirregoitia et al, 2006;Rittner et al, 2008), is now widely accepted. These include placental (Sastry et al, 1980;Belisle et al, 1988) and uterine tissue (Zhu and Pintar, 1998) where they have been implicated in the regulation of female reproduction (Sastry et al, 1980;Belisle et al, 1988;Amed et al, 1989;Cemerikic, 1991;Zhu and Pintar, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opioid mediated activity and expression of mu and delta opioid receptors in isolated human term non-labouring myometrium

Fanning

McMorrow

Campion

et al. 2013

European Journal of Pharmacology

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TitleOpioid mediated activity and expression of mu and delta opioid receptors in isolated human term non-laboring myometrium AbstractThe existence of opioid receptors in mammalian myometrial tissue is now widely accepted. Previously enkephalin degrading enzymes have been shown to be elevated in pregnant rat uterus and a met-enkephalin analogue has been shown to alter spontaneous contractility of rat myometrium. Here we have undertaken studies to determine the effects of met-enkephalin on in vitro human myometrial contractility and investigate the expression of opioid receptors in pregnant myometrium. Myometrial biopsies were taken from women undergoing elective caesarean delivery at term. Organ bath experiments were used to investigate the effect of the met-enkephalin analogue [D-Ala 2, D-met 5] enkephalin (DAMEA) on spontaneous contractility. A confocal immunofluorescent technique and real time PCR were used to determine the expression of protein and mRNA respectively for two opioid receptor subtypes, mu and delta. DAMEA had a concentration dependent inhibitory effect on contractile activity (1X10 -7 M to 1X10 -4 M; 54% reduction in contractile activity, P<0.001 at 1X10 -4 M concentration). Mu and delta opioid receptor protein sub-types and their respective mRNA were identified in all tissues sampled. This is the first report of opioid receptor expression and of an opioid mediated uterorelaxant action in term human non-laboring myometrium in vitro.

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Expression and Localization of δ-, κ-, and μ-Opioid Receptors in Human Spermatozoa and Implications for Sperm Motility

Abstract: We report for first time the presence of functional delta-, kappa-, and mu-opioid receptors in human sperm membranes. These findings are indicative of a role for the opioid system in the regulation of sperm physiology.

Cited by 89 publications

References 37 publications

Regulation of Male Fertility by the Opioid System

Regulation of Male Fertility by the Opioid System

Peptidase activities in Crotalus durissus terrificus semen

Opioid mediated activity and expression of mu and delta opioid receptors in isolated human term non-labouring myometrium

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