Roles of Nitric Oxide in the Regulation of Reproduction: A Review

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) has attracted significant attention as a stellar molecule. Presently, the study of NO has penetrated every field of life science, and NO is widely distributed in various tissues and organs. This review demonstrates the importance of NO in both male and female reproductive processes in numerous ways, such as in neuromodulation, follicular and oocyte maturation, ovulation, corpus luteum degeneration, fertilization, implantation, pregnancy maintenance, labor and menstrual cycle regulation, spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and reproduction. However, the mechanism of action of some NO is still unknown, and understanding its mechanism may contribute to the clinical treatment of some reproductive diseases.

Histological and hemodynamic characterization of corpus luteum throughout the luteal phase in pregnant and non-pregnant buffalos in relation to nitric oxide levels based on its anatomical determination

“…Hence, the present study was designed to study the cellular composition of the mature buffalo CL with its functional characterization in relation to progesterone secretory ability and nitric oxide during the normal luteal and pregnancy phases. In the normal luteal phase the level of NOMs was critical as it was related to the luteal vascularization and functionality ( 59 ), as after ovulation nitric oxide affects oocyte activation by regulating the calcium channel during the process of fertilization ( 60 ), while in the normal early pregnant stage, nitric oxide contributes to the elevation of maternal blood and reduction of blood pressure ( 61 ). Moreover, nitric oxide was extremely important in the embryo's multiple divisions ( 62 ) as some studies showed that embryonic growth was delayed due to the presence of inhibitory mediators in the blastocyst stage that adversely affects nitric oxide levels ( 63 ).…”

Amino acid motifs for the identification of novel protein interactants

“…In the stigma, pollen tubes of these mutant plants were also outcompeted by the wild type as they were much shorter, and this resulted in poorer reproductive fitness [138] . It is tempting to draw parallels with the Homo sapiens male reproductive system that is also mediated by NO [139] . Unlike AtNOGC1, NO-sensing by AtDGK4 does not affect the GC activity thus implying different pathways governed by the two moonlighting sites of AtDGK4 which itself is an annotated lipid kinase [138] .…”

Ameliorative effects of propolis upon reproductive toxicity in males

“…It acts as a vasodilator, particularly for blood vessels and inner muscles, which consequently increases circulation in these tissues [67]. Nitric oxide has been found to have a crucial role in male reproduction [68,69]. For example, it boosts the blood flow in the testes, thereby enhancing https://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2022.05785 GSH, glutathione; CAT, catalase; GPx, glutathione peroxidase; Bcl2, B-cell lymphoma 2; MDA, malonyl dialdehyde; BAX, BCL2 associated X protein; AR, androgen receptor; LH, luteinizing hormone; StAR, steroidogenesis acute regulatory protein; CYP11A1, cytochrome P450 A1; CYP17A1, cytochrome P450 17A1; HSD, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; MCT, monocarboxylate transporter; LDHc, lactate dehydrogenase type C; BW, body weight; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; GST, glutathione-S-transferase; HIF-1α, hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TNFα, tumor necrosis factor alpha; Fas-L, Fas ligand.…”