Document Detail


Insulin and IR-beta in pig spermatozoa: a role of the hormone in the acquisition of fertilizing ability.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19531084     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Recent studies have revealed that insulin, the main regulator of the glucose homeostasis in somatic cells, is expressed in human spermatozoa which are also able to secrete it. This study investigated the expression of insulin and insulin receptor beta in pig spermatozoa, at immunohistochemical protein and mRNA level. The immunofluorescence assay revealed that insulin and its receptor were co-localized in the sperm midpiece, while insulin was also detected in the acrosomal region. Western blot evidenced a 36 kDa band for insulin and a 95 kDa band for insulin receptor, such as reported in somatic cells. In addition, both insulin and insulin receptor transcripts were detected in pig spermatozoa. Interestingly, a possible biological role of the hormone was evidenced during pig sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction. In fact, the results showed that insulin (0.01 and 0.1 nm) can induce both the activities. A possible autocrine short loop of insulin in pig spermatozoa was suggested by the evaluation of the hormone secretion in both uncapacitated and capacitated spermatozoa. Furthermore, spontaneous sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction were stimulated by glucose and inhibited by the blockage of insulin release (nifedipine). In conclusion, this work has firstly demonstrated the expression of insulin and of its receptor, as well as the insulin secretion by pig spermatozoa, thereby suggesting an unexpected significance of the hormone in the acquisition of the male gamete fertilizing ability.
Authors:
A Carpino; V Rago; C Guido; I Casaburi; S Aquila
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-06-15
Journal Detail:
Title:  International journal of andrology     Volume:  33     ISSN:  1365-2605     ISO Abbreviation:  Int. J. Androl.     Publication Date:  2010 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-06-15     Completed Date:  2010-09-10     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8000141     Medline TA:  Int J Androl     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  554-62     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Cell Biology, University of Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy. am_carpino@yahoo.it
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acrosome / metabolism
Acrosome Reaction
Animals
Blotting, Western
Fertilization / physiology*
Glucose / metabolism
Hormones / metabolism
Insulin / genetics,  metabolism*,  secretion
Male
Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
Sperm Capacitation
Spermatozoa / metabolism*,  secretion*
Sus scrofa / metabolism
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Hormones; 11061-68-0/Insulin; 50-99-7/Glucose; EC 2.7.10.1/Receptor, Insulin

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