Journal of Molecular Neuroscience

, Volume 48, Issue 3, pp 623–630 | Cite as

Effects of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide on Human Sperm Motility

  • R. Brubel
  • P. Kiss
  • A. Vincze
  • A. Varga
  • A. Varnagy
  • J. Bodis
  • L. Mark
  • E. Jambor
  • G. Maasz
  • H. Hashimoto
  • Zs. Helyes
  • G. Toth
  • A. Tamas
  • M. Koppan
  • D. Reglodi
Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), a neuropeptide with diverse effects, was originally isolated as a hypothalamo-hypophyseal peptide. Subsequent studies showed highest levels of PACAP in the testis after the brain, suggesting that it influences the development and functioning of spermatozoa. Indeed, it has been proven that PACAP has an effect on spermatogenesis, both locally and via influencing the hypothalamo-hypophyseal–gonadal axis. The aim of the present study was to determine whether PACAP has an effect on human sperm motility and whether it is present in the human seminal fluid. Furthermore, the sperm head morphology was studied in mice lacking endogenous PACAP. Human samples were obtained from healthy adult volunteers and andrological patients. The effects of PACAP on the motility of human sperm cells were investigated using a computer aided sperm analysis system. In cases where the motility was lower, addition of PACAP to the samples increased the motility and the ratio of rapid progressive and medium progressive sperm motility groups. The presence of PACAP could not be detected in human seminal fluid samples by means of mass spectrometry. Investigating sperm head morphology with routine histology in PACAP deficient mice revealed that both the longitudinal and transverse diameters were significantly lower in PACAP deficient mice, without marked difference in the shape, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy.

Keywords

Sperm motility Semen Mass spectrometry Scanning electron microscopy 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Hungarian National Scientific grants OTKA K72592 and CNK 78480, Richter Gedeon Centenary Foundation, SROP 4.1.2.B-10/2/KONV-20/0-0002, SROP 4.2.2/B-10/1-2010-0029, Bolyai Scholarship, MTA Lendulet Program, Pecs University Research Grant ÁOKKA-34039/10-14 and Funding Program for Next Generation World-Leading Researchers (established by the Council for Science and Technology Policy, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  • R. Brubel
    • 1
  • P. Kiss
    • 1
  • A. Vincze
    • 1
  • A. Varga
    • 1
  • A. Varnagy
    • 2
  • J. Bodis
    • 2
  • L. Mark
    • 3
  • E. Jambor
    • 3
  • G. Maasz
    • 3
  • H. Hashimoto
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
  • Zs. Helyes
    • 7
  • G. Toth
    • 8
  • A. Tamas
    • 1
  • M. Koppan
    • 2
  • D. Reglodi
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Anatomy, PTE-MTA Lendulet PACAP Research GroupUniversity of PecsPecsHungary
  2. 2.Department of Obstetrics and GynaecologyUniversity of PecsPecsHungary
  3. 3.Department of Biochemistry and Medical ChemistryUniversity of PecsPecsHungary
  4. 4.Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical SciencesOsaka UniversityOsakaJapan
  5. 5.Center for Child Mental Development, United Graduate School of Child DevelopmentOsaka University, Kanazawa University and Hamamatsu University School of MedicineOsakaJapan
  6. 6.Department of Molecular Pharmaceutical Science, Graduate School of MedicineOsaka UniversityOsakaJapan
  7. 7.Department of Pharmacology and PharmacotherapyUniversity of PecsPecsHungary
  8. 8.Department of Medical ChemistryUniversity of SzegedSzegedHungary

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