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Metallinou C, Staneloudi C, Nikolettos K, Asimakopoulos B. NGF, EPO, and IGF-1 in the Male Reproductive System. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2918. [PMID: 38792459 PMCID: PMC11122040 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Several studies have demonstrated interesting results considering the implication of three growth factors (GFs), namely nerve growth factor (NGF), erythropoietin (EPO), and the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) in the physiology of male reproductive functions. This review provides insights into the effects of NGF, EPO, and IGF-1 on the male reproductive system, emphasizing mainly their effects on sperm motility and vitality. In the male reproductive system, the expression pattern of the NGF system varies according to the species and testicular development, playing a crucial role in morphogenesis and spermatogenesis. In humans, it seems that NGF positively affects sperm motility parameters and NGF supplementation in cryopreservation media improves post-thaw sperm motility. In animals, EPO is found in various male reproductive tissues, and in humans, the protein is present in seminal plasma and testicular germ cells. EPO receptors have been discovered in the plasma membrane of human spermatozoa, suggesting potential roles in sperm motility and vitality. In humans, IGF-1 is expressed mainly in Sertoli cells and is present in seminal plasma, contributing to cell development and the maturation of spermatozoa. IGF-1 seems to modulate sperm motility, and treatment with IGF-1 has a positive effect on sperm motility and vitality. Furthermore, lower levels of NGF or IGF-1 in seminal plasma are associated with infertility. Understanding the mechanisms of actions of these GFs in the male reproductive system may improve the outcome of sperm processing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chryssa Metallinou
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (C.M.); (K.N.)
| | - Chrysovalanto Staneloudi
- Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Nikolettos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (C.M.); (K.N.)
| | - Byron Asimakopoulos
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Alexandroupolis, Greece; (C.M.); (K.N.)
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Maranesi M, Boiti C, Zerani M. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Animal Reproduction. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1331:277-287. [PMID: 34453306 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Stimuli that lead to the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and pituitary gonadotropins and, consequently, ovulation in mammals fall into two broad categories. In the first, high plasma oestrogen concentrations induce the events that trigger ovulation, a characteristic of spontaneous ovulators. In the second, nerve stimuli occurring during mating reach the hypothalamus and trigger the release of GnRH and ovulation with a neuroendocrine reflex that characterizes induced ovulators.In this review, we will give an overview of the distribution of NGF and its expression in the different tissues of the male accessory sex glands, the main sites of NGF production. Next, we will highlight the role of NGF in sperm function and its potential cryopreserving role in artificial insemination techniques. Finally, we will evaluate the functions of NGF in ovulation, particularly in induced ovulators. Overall, the information obtained so far indicates that NGF is widely distributed in organs that regulate the reproductive activity, in both males and females. In spontaneous ovulators, NGF exerts mainly a luteotrophic action, while, in induced ovulators it is the main ovulation-inducing factor. A better understanding of the role of NGF in reproduction would be of great interest, since it could help finding innovative therapeutic aids to improve mammalian fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Maranesi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, Perugia, PG, Italy.
| | - Cristiano Boiti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, Perugia, PG, Italy
| | - Massimo Zerani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Perugia, Perugia, PG, Italy
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Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Abad P, Arias-Alvarez M, Rebollar PG, Bautista JM, Lorenzo PL, García-García RM. Recombinant rabbit beta nerve growth factor production and its biological effects on sperm and ovulation in rabbits. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219780. [PMID: 31318941 PMCID: PMC6639004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In some induced-ovulating species, beta nerve growth factor (β-NGF) has important roles in ovulation, though data for rabbits are still inconclusive. In this study we first synthesized functional recombinant β-NGF from rabbit tissue (rrβ-NGF) to address the following objectives: 1) to compare rabbit β-NGF amino acid sequence with those of other induced- or spontaneous-ovulating species; 2) to assess the effects of rrβ-NGF on rabbit sperm viability and motility, and 3) to examine the in vivo ovulation inducing effect of rrβ-NGF added to the seminal dose in rabbit does. The NGF gene in rabbit prostate tissue was sequenced by Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends and annotated in GenBank (KX528686). Recombinant rβ-NGF was produced in CHO cells and purified by affinity chromatography. Once confirmed by Western blotting and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) that the amino acid sequence of the recombinant protein corresponded to β-NGF, its functionality was validated in PC12 cells in a successful dose-response study over 8 days. The amino acid sequence of prostate rabbit NGF differed to that of other species mainly in its receptor binding sites. In all the spontaneous ovulating species examined, compared with rabbit, alanine and proline residues, which interact with the high-affinity receptor, were replaced by a serine. In rabbits, asparagine and methionine were substituted by lysine at the low-affinity receptor binding site. In time- and dose-response experiments, the in vitro addition of rrβ-NGF to the ejaculate did not affect sperm viability whereas sperm motility parameters were enhanced by the addition of 1 μg/mL of the neuropeptide. Addition of this same concentration of rrβ-NGF to the seminal dose administered via the intravaginal route in does induced ovulation with a delayed LH peak, leading to a plasma progesterone increase, gestation and delivery. Our findings suggest that rrβ-NGF could be a useful option for biotechnological and reproduction assisted techniques in rabbits but further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Abad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Arias-Alvarez
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar G. Rebollar
- Department of Agrarian Production, ETSIAAB, Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M. Bautista
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro L. Lorenzo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa M. García-García
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Sari LM, Zampini R, Argañaraz ME, Carretero MI, Fumuso FG, Barraza DE, Ratto M, Apichela SA. Expression of β‐NGF and high‐affinity NGF receptor (TrKA) in llama (
Lama glama
) male reproductive tract and spermatozoa. Mol Reprod Dev 2018; 85:934-944. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luciana M. Sari
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET‐UNT, and Instituto de Biología “Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri,” Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTSan Miguel de Tucumán Argentina
| | - Renato Zampini
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET‐UNT, and Instituto de Biología “Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri,” Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTSan Miguel de Tucumán Argentina
- Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de TucumánSan Miguel de Tucumán Tucumán Argentina
| | - Martin E. Argañaraz
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET‐UNT, and Instituto de Biología “Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri,” Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTSan Miguel de Tucumán Argentina
- Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de TucumánSan Miguel de Tucumán Tucumán Argentina
| | - María I. Carretero
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de TeriogenologíaBuenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Fernanda G. Fumuso
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Cátedra de TeriogenologíaBuenos Aires Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - Daniela E. Barraza
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET‐UNT, and Instituto de Biología “Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri,” Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTSan Miguel de Tucumán Argentina
| | - Marcelo Ratto
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla TejaValdivia Chile
| | - Silvana A. Apichela
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET‐UNT, and Instituto de Biología “Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri,” Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTSan Miguel de Tucumán Argentina
- Cátedra de Zootecnia General I, Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de TucumánEl Manantial Tucumán Argentina
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Ramírez-Reveco A, Villarroel-Espíndola F, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Concha II. Neuronal signaling repertoire in the mammalian sperm functionality. Biol Reprod 2017; 96:505-524. [PMID: 28339693 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.144154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The common embryonic origin has been a recurrent explanation to understand the presence of "neural receptors" in sperm. However, this designation has conditioned a bias marked by the classical neurotransmission model, dismissing the possibility that neurotransmitters can play specific roles in the sperm function by themselves. For instance, the launching of acrosome reaction, a fundamental sperm function, includes several steps that recall the process of presynaptic secretion. Unlike of postsynaptic neuron, whose activation is mediated by molecular interaction between neurotransmitter and postsynaptic receptors, the oocyte activation is not mediated by receptors, but by cytosolic translocation of sperm phospholipase (PLCζ). Thus, the sperm has a cellular design to access and activate the oocyte and restore the ploidy of the species by an "allogenic pronuclear fusion." At subcellular level, the events controlling sperm function, particularly the capacitation process, are activated by chemical signals that trigger ion fluxes, sterol oxidation, synthesis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, protein kinase A activation, tyrosine phosphorylations and calcium signaling, which correspond to second messengers similar to those associated with exocytosis and growth cone guidance in neurons. Classically, the sperm function associated with neural signals has been analyzed as a unidimensional approach (single ligand-receptor effect). However, the in vivo sperm are exposed to multidimensional signaling context, for example, the GABAergic, monoaminergic, purinergic, cholinergic, and melatoninergic, to name a few. The aim of this review is to present an overview of sperm functionality associated with "neuronal signaling" and possible cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in their regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Ramírez-Reveco
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Franz Villarroel-Espíndola
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Department of Pathology and Pediatric Pathology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joan E Rodríguez-Gil
- Unitat de Reproducció Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ilona I Concha
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
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Saeednia S, Shabani Nashtaei M, Bahadoran H, Aleyasin A, Amidi F. Effect of nerve growth factor on sperm quality in asthenozoosprmic men during cryopreservation. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2016; 14:29. [PMID: 27233989 PMCID: PMC4884433 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-016-0163-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although routinely used in assisted reproductive technology, human sperm cryopreservation is not an entirely successful procedure. This study determined the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) supplementation of cryopreservation medium on post-thaw viability, motility, intracellular nitric oxide (NO) concentration, and DNA fragmentation of human spermatozoa in asthenozoospermic men. METHODS Semen samples were collected from 25 asthenozoosprmic men and divided into the following groups (n = 5/group): fresh semen (control); frozen-thawed semen without treatment; frozen-thawed semen with NGF treatment (0.5, 1, and 5 ng/ml). Prior to dividing the asthenozoospermic samples, 200 μl of each sample was collected for NGF content assessment by ELISA and then compared with normozoospermic semen samples (25 normozoospermic men). Sperm motility and viability were assessed according to WHO criteria. Furthermore, intracellular nitric oxide and DNA fragmentation were evaluated by Flow Cytometry. RESULTS NGF content was significantly higher in normozoospermic compared with asthenozoospermic men. Cryopreservation of asthenozoospermic semen samples significantly decreased sperm viability and motility, and increased intracellular nitric oxide concentration and DNA damage (p < 0.01). In asthenozoospermic frozen-thawed samples treated with 0.5 ng/ml exogenous NGF, we observed a significantly increased viability, motility, and decreased DNA fragmentation (p < 0.05), but intracellular nitric oxide concentration was not reduced. The other high doses (1 and 5 ng/ml) had no significant effect on the variables. CONCLUSION Supplementation with exogenous NGF could have partial and limited protective effect during cryopreservation of human spermatozoa but further research is needed to evaluate the possible clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Saeednia
- School of medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Maryam Shabani Nashtaei
- Department of Anatomy, School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Bahadoran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashraf Aleyasin
- Department of Infertility, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fardin Amidi
- Department of Anatomy, School of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Casares-Crespo L, Talaván AM, Viudes-de-Castro MP. Can the Genetic Origin Affect Rabbit Seminal Plasma Protein Profile along the Year? Reprod Domest Anim 2016; 51:294-300. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- L Casares-Crespo
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (CITA-IVIA); Segorbe Castellón Spain
| | - AM Talaván
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal; Universidad Politécnica de Valencia; Valencia Spain
| | - MP Viudes-de-Castro
- Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (CITA-IVIA); Segorbe Castellón Spain
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