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Prostacyclin enhances embryo hatching but not sperm motility.
- Source :
-
Human reproduction (Oxford, England) [Hum Reprod] 2003 Dec; Vol. 18 (12), pp. 2582-9. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Background: Recently we discovered that the human oviduct synthesizes abundant prostacyclin (PGI(2)). Gene knock-out studies suggest that PGI(2) is essential to endometrial decidualization, but the effects of PGI(2) on sperm and embryos have not been reported.<br />Methods: The effects of PGI(2) on human sperm were analysed by a computer-assisted semen analysis system. The effects of PGI(2) on mouse embryos were examined based on the rates of complete hatching. The expression of PGI(2) receptor (IP) was evaluated by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The binding of PGI(2) to embryos was confirmed by radioligand binding assay. Finally, cAMP levels were assessed in PGI(2)-challenged embryos.<br />Results: Iloprost (a stable PGI(2) analogue) did not affect the motility or the overnight survivability of human sperm. Western blot analysis did not detect IP in the sperm plasma membrane. In contrast, the hatching of mouse embryos was enhanced by iloprost (ED(50) 6.7 nmol/l). Exposure to iloprost during 8-cell to morulae or morulae to early blastocyst stages was critical to enhanced hatching. This coincided with the developmental stage-specific expression of IP. Although iloprost bound to blastocysts, it did not significantly increase cAMP.<br />Conclusion: PGI(2) enhanced the hatching of mouse embryos but not the motility of human sperm.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Blastocyst drug effects
Blotting, Western
Cell Membrane chemistry
Cell Survival drug effects
Cyclic AMP analysis
Embryo, Mammalian drug effects
Embryo, Mammalian physiology
Epoprostenol metabolism
GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs metabolism
Humans
Iloprost analysis
Iloprost pharmacology
Immunohistochemistry
Male
Mice
Morula drug effects
Radioligand Assay
Receptors, Epoprostenol analysis
Spermatozoa ultrastructure
Embryonic and Fetal Development drug effects
Epoprostenol pharmacology
Sperm Motility drug effects
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0268-1161
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 14645174
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deg490