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Nitric oxide inhibition of human sperm motility.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Weinberg, JB; Doty, E; Bonaventura, J; Haney, AF
Published in: Fertil Steril
August 1995

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on sperm motility in vitro. DESIGN: Normal human sperm separated by centrifugation through a discontinuous Percoll gradient and subsequent swim-up were incubated for up to 24 hours with NO donors, with and without the known NO quencher hemoglobin, as well as with agents that raise intracellular cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Sperm respiration was determined by a tetrazolium-formazan spectrophotometric assay. SETTING: Andrology laboratory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Absolute sperm motility and respiration. RESULTS: Sperm incubated with the NO donors 1 mM nitroprusside, 100 to 125 microM 3-morpholinosydnonimine, and 25 to 125 microM pure nitric oxide gas dissolved in buffer were inhibited in motility in a dose-dependent fashion. The inhibition could be reversed by the NO quencher hemoglobin. Agents that raise cellular cGMP (dibutyryl cGMP or 8-bromo-cGMP) did not inhibit motility. Nitric oxide inhibited sperm respiration, as measured by the tetrazolium-formazan assay. CONCLUSIONS: Nitric oxide reduces sperm motility, possibly by a mechanism involving inhibition of cellular respiration independent of an elevation of intracellular cGMP. Nitric oxide elaborated in the female or male genital tract in vivo could adversely influence sperm function and fertility.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Fertil Steril

DOI

ISSN

0015-0282

Publication Date

August 1995

Volume

64

Issue

2

Start / End Page

408 / 413

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sperm Motility
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Nitroprusside
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Molsidomine
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hemoglobins
  • Cyclic GMP
 

Citation

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Weinberg, J. B., Doty, E., Bonaventura, J., & Haney, A. F. (1995). Nitric oxide inhibition of human sperm motility. Fertil Steril, 64(2), 408–413. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57743-7
Weinberg, J. B., E. Doty, J. Bonaventura, and A. F. Haney. “Nitric oxide inhibition of human sperm motility.Fertil Steril 64, no. 2 (August 1995): 408–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57743-7.
Weinberg JB, Doty E, Bonaventura J, Haney AF. Nitric oxide inhibition of human sperm motility. Fertil Steril. 1995 Aug;64(2):408–13.
Weinberg, J. B., et al. “Nitric oxide inhibition of human sperm motility.Fertil Steril, vol. 64, no. 2, Aug. 1995, pp. 408–13. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s0015-0282(16)57743-7.
Weinberg JB, Doty E, Bonaventura J, Haney AF. Nitric oxide inhibition of human sperm motility. Fertil Steril. 1995 Aug;64(2):408–413.
Journal cover image

Published In

Fertil Steril

DOI

ISSN

0015-0282

Publication Date

August 1995

Volume

64

Issue

2

Start / End Page

408 / 413

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Sperm Motility
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Nitroprusside
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Molsidomine
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hemoglobins
  • Cyclic GMP