FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Presence and function of dopamine transporter (DAT) in stall...
PloS one2014; 9(11); e112834; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112834

Presence and function of dopamine transporter (DAT) in stallion sperm: dopamine modulates sperm motility and acrosomal integrity.

Abstract: Dopamine is a catecholamine with multiple physiological functions, playing a key role in nervous system; however its participation in reproductive processes and sperm physiology is controversial. High dopamine concentrations have been reported in different portions of the feminine and masculine reproductive tract, although the role fulfilled by this catecholamine in reproductive physiology is as yet unknown. We have previously shown that dopamine type 2 receptor is functional in boar sperm, suggesting that dopamine acts as a physiological modulator of sperm viability, capacitation and motility. In the present study, using immunodetection methods, we revealed the presence of several proteins important for the dopamine uptake and signalling in mammalian sperm, specifically monoamine transporters as dopamine (DAT), serotonin (SERT) and norepinephrine (NET) transporters in equine sperm. We also demonstrated for the first time in equine sperm a functional dopamine transporter using 4-[4-(Dimethylamino)styryl]-N-methylpyridinium iodide (ASP(+)), as substrate. In addition, we also showed that dopamine (1 mM) treatment in vitro, does not affect sperm viability but decreases total and progressive sperm motility. This effect is reversed by blocking the dopamine transporter with the selective inhibitor vanoxerine (GBR12909) and non-selective inhibitors of dopamine reuptake such as nomifensine and bupropion. The effect of dopamine in sperm physiology was evaluated and we demonstrated that acrosome integrity and thyrosine phosphorylation in equine sperm is significantly reduced at high concentrations of this catecholamine. In summary, our results revealed the presence of monoamine transporter DAT, NET and SERT in equine sperm, and that the dopamine uptake by DAT can regulate sperm function, specifically acrosomal integrity and sperm motility.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2014-11-17 PubMed ID: 25402186PubMed Central: PMC4234536DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112834Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores the presence of dopamine transporters in stallion sperm and their influence on sperm motility and acrosomal integrity, determining that dopamine indeed can impact these attributes.

Study Overview and Methods

  • The researchers centered their study on the controversial role of the neurotransmitter dopamine in sperm physiology and reproductive processes, given its known prominence in the nervous system and its detected presence in both male and female reproductive tract.
  • The research adds on previous findings which indicated that dopamine type 2 receptor is functional in boar sperm, implying that dopamine may have a physiological role in sperm viability, capacitation, and motility.
  • Through the application of immunodetection methods, the presence of several proteins crucial for dopamine uptake and signaling were revealed in stallion sperm, specifically monoamine transporters such as dopamine (DAT), serotonin (SERT), and norepinephrine (NET) transporters.
  • For assaying a functional dopamine transporter, they used a compound known as 4-[4-(Dimethylamino)styryl]-N-methylpyridinium iodide (ASP(+)).

Findings and Conclusions

  • It was discovered that dopamine treatment does not influence sperm viability. However, it does decrease both total and progressive sperm motility. These effects, however, are reversed by blocking the dopamine transporter with the selective inhibitor vanoxerine (GBR12909) and non-selective inhibitors of dopamine reuptake, namely, nomifensine and bupropion.
  • The researchers also found that high concentrations of dopamine significantly reduce two key physiological traits of sperm: acrosome integrity and thyrosine phosphorylation. The former refers to the structure in the spermatozoon which contains enzymes helping in the penetration of the egg, while the latter is a crucial enzymatic process for the communication between cells.
  • In conclusion, this study reveals the presence of dopamine and other monoamine transporters in equine sperm and highlights the importance of dopamine in regulating acrosomal integrity and sperm motility.

Cite This Article

APA
Urra JA, Villaroel-Espíndola F, Covarrubias AA, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Ramírez-Reveco A, Concha II. (2014). Presence and function of dopamine transporter (DAT) in stallion sperm: dopamine modulates sperm motility and acrosomal integrity. PLoS One, 9(11), e112834. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112834

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
Pages: e112834
PII: e112834

Researcher Affiliations

Urra, Javier A
  • Escuela de Graduados, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Villaroel-Espíndola, Franz
  • Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Covarrubias, Alejandra A
  • Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Rodríguez-Gil, Joan Enric
  • Unitat de Reproducció Animal, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
Ramírez-Reveco, Alfredo
  • Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Concha, Ilona I
  • Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.

MeSH Terms

  • Acrosome / drug effects
  • Acrosome / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopamine / pharmacology
  • Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mammals
  • Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

This article includes 34 references
  1. Missale C, Nash SR, Robinson SW, Jaber M, Caron MG. Dopamine receptors: from structure to function.. Physiol Rev 1998 Jan;78(1):189-225.
    pubmed: 9457173doi: 10.1152/physrev.1998.78.1.189google scholar: lookup
  2. Lindahl PE, Sjöblom P, Tottmar O. Catecholamines in bovine semen.. Experientia 1981;37(8):860-1.
    pubmed: 7286139doi: 10.1007/BF01985681google scholar: lookup
  3. Fait G, Vered Y, Yogev L, Gamzu R, Lessing JB, Paz G, Yavetz H. High levels of catecholamines in human semen: a preliminary study.. Andrologia 2001 Nov;33(6):347-50.
    pubmed: 11736795doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0272.2001.00461.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  4. Chaud M, Fernandez Pardal J, Viggiano M, Gimeno MF, Gimeno AL. Is there a role for dopamine in the regulation of motility of sow oviducts?. Pharmacol Res Commun 1983 Nov;15(10):923-36.
    pubmed: 6336539doi: 10.1016/s0031-6989(83)80022-8google scholar: lookup
  5. Helm G, Owman C, Rosengren E, Sjöberg NO. Regional and cyclic variations in catecholamine concentration of the human fallopian tube.. Biol Reprod 1982 May;26(4):553-8.
    pubmed: 7200809doi: 10.1095/biolreprod26.4.553google scholar: lookup
  6. Khatchadourian C, Menezo Y, Gerard M, Thibault C. Catecholamines within the rabbit oviduct at fertilization time.. Hum Reprod 1987 Jan;2(1):1-5.
    pubmed: 3571442doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a136480google scholar: lookup
  7. Kotwica G, Kurowicka B, Franczak A, Grzegorzewski W, Wrobel M, Mlynarczuk J, Kotwica J. The concentrations of catecholamines and oxytocin receptors in the oviduct and its contractile activity in cows during the estrous cycle.. Theriogenology 2003 Sep 15;60(5):953-64.
    pubmed: 12935872doi: 10.1016/s0093-691x(03)00086-4google scholar: lookup
  8. Bae SE, Corcoran BM, Watson ED. Immunohistochemical study of the distribution of adrenergic and peptidergic innervation in the equine uterus and the cervix.. Reproduction 2001 Aug;122(2):275-82.
    pubmed: 11467978doi: 10.1530/rep.0.1220275google scholar: lookup
  9. Mayerhofer A, Frungieri MB, Fritz S, Bulling A, Jessberger B, Vogt HJ. Evidence for catecholaminergic, neuronlike cells in the adult human testis: changes associated with testicular pathologies.. J Androl 1999 May-Jun;20(3):341-7.
    pubmed: 10386813
  10. Davidoff MS, Ungefroren H, Middendorff R, Koeva Y, Bakalska M, Atanassova N, Holstein AF, Jezek D, Pusch W, Müller D. Catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes in the adult and prenatal human testis.. Histochem Cell Biol 2005 Sep;124(3-4):313-23.
    pubmed: 16052322doi: 10.1007/s00418-005-0024-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  11. Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Gibbons R, Fraser LR. Identification of functional alpha2- and beta-adrenergic receptors in mammalian spermatozoa.. Hum Reprod 2006 Jun;21(6):1555-63.
    pubmed: 16488904doi: 10.1093/humrep/del016google scholar: lookup
  12. Cornett LE, Bavister BD, Meizel S. Adrenergic stimulation of fertilizing ability in hamster spermatozoa.. Biol Reprod 1979 May;20(4):925-9.
    pubmed: 36933doi: 10.1095/biolreprod20.4.925google scholar: lookup
  13. Meizel S, Working PK. Further evidence suggesting the hormonal stimulation of hamster sperm acrosome reactions by catecholamines in vitro.. Biol Reprod 1980 Mar;22(2):211-6.
    pubmed: 7378531doi: 10.1095/biolreprod22.2.211google scholar: lookup
  14. Way AL, Killian GJ. Capacitation and induction of the acrosome reaction in bull spermatozoa with norepinephrine.. J Androl 2002 May-Jun;23(3):352-7.
    pubmed: 12002437
  15. Bavister BD, Chen AF, Fu PC. Catecholamine requirement for hamster sperm motility in vitro.. J Reprod Fertil 1979 Jul;56(2):507-13.
    pubmed: 480308doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0560507google scholar: lookup
  16. Cornett LE, Meizel S. Stimulation of in vitro activation and the acrosome reaction of hamster spermatozoa by catecholamines.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1978 Oct;75(10):4954-8.
    pmc: PMC336240pubmed: 283405doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.10.4954google scholar: lookup
  17. Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Fraser LR. Cathine, an amphetamine-related compound, acts on mammalian spermatozoa via beta1- and alpha2A-adrenergic receptors in a capacitation state-dependent manner.. Hum Reprod 2007 Mar;22(3):756-65.
    pubmed: 17158213doi: 10.1093/humrep/del454google scholar: lookup
  18. Otth C, Torres M, Ramírez A, Fernandez JC, Castro M, Rauch MC, Brito M, Yañez AJ, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Slebe JC, Concha II. Novel identification of peripheral dopaminergic D2 receptor in male germ cells.. J Cell Biochem 2007 Jan 1;100(1):141-50.
    pubmed: 16924680doi: 10.1002/jcb.21037google scholar: lookup
  19. Ramírez AR, Castro MA, Angulo C, Ramió L, Rivera MM, Torres M, Rigau T, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Concha II. The presence and function of dopamine type 2 receptors in boar sperm: a possible role for dopamine in viability, capacitation, and modulation of sperm motility.. Biol Reprod 2009 Apr;80(4):753-61.
    pubmed: 19074002doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.108.070961google scholar: lookup
  20. Mayerhofer A, Danilchik M, Pau KY, Lara HE, Russell LD, Ojeda SR. Testis of prepubertal rhesus monkeys receives a dual catecholaminergic input provided by the extrinsic innervation and an intragonadal source of catecholamines.. Biol Reprod 1996 Sep;55(3):509-18.
    pubmed: 8862766doi: 10.1095/biolreprod55.3.509google scholar: lookup
  21. Frungieri MB, Urbanski HF, Höhne-Zell B, Mayerhofer A. Neuronal elements in the testis of the rhesus monkey: ontogeny, characterization and relationship to testicular cells.. Neuroendocrinology 2000 Jan;71(1):43-50.
    pubmed: 10644898doi: 10.1159/000054519google scholar: lookup
  22. Billups KL, Tillman S, Chang TS. Ablation of the inferior mesenteric plexus in the rat: alteration of sperm storage in the epididymis and vas deferens.. J Urol 1990 Mar;143(3):625-9.
    pubmed: 2304184doi: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)40043-7google scholar: lookup
  23. Billups KL, Tillman SL, Chang TS. Reduction of epididymal sperm motility after ablation of the inferior mesenteric plexus in the rat.. Fertil Steril 1990 Jun;53(6):1076-82.
    pubmed: 2351230
  24. Gil AG, Silván G, Martínez-Mateos MM, Illera JC. Serum catecholamine levels after halothane and isoflurane anaesthesia in rabbits.. Vet Rec 2005 Nov 5;157(19):589-90.
    pubmed: 16272547doi: 10.1136/vr.157.19.589google scholar: lookup
  25. Gil AG, Silván G, Illera JC. Pituitary-adrenocortical axis, serum serotonin and biochemical response after halothane or isoflurane anaesthesia in rabbits.. Lab Anim 2007 Oct;41(4):411-9.
    pubmed: 17988436doi: 10.1258/002367707782314274google scholar: lookup
  26. Ayala I, Martos NF, Silvan G, Gutierrez-Panizo C, Clavel JG, Illera JC. Cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, serotonin, adrenaline and noradrenaline serum concentrations in relation to disease and stress in the horse.. Res Vet Sci 2012 Aug;93(1):103-7.
    pubmed: 21641009doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2011.05.013google scholar: lookup
  27. Wu X, Gu HH. Molecular cloning of the mouse dopamine transporter and pharmacological comparison with the human homologue.. Gene 1999 Jun 11;233(1-2):163-70.
    pubmed: 10375632doi: 10.1016/s0378-1119(99)00143-2google scholar: lookup
  28. Mason JN, Farmer H, Tomlinson ID, Schwartz JW, Savchenko V, DeFelice LJ, Rosenthal SJ, Blakely RD. Novel fluorescence-based approaches for the study of biogenic amine transporter localization, activity, and regulation.. J Neurosci Methods 2005 Apr 15;143(1):3-25.
    pubmed: 15763132doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.09.028google scholar: lookup
  29. Schwartz JW, Novarino G, Piston DW, DeFelice LJ. Substrate binding stoichiometry and kinetics of the norepinephrine transporter.. J Biol Chem 2005 May 13;280(19):19177-84.
    pubmed: 15757904doi: 10.1074/jbc.M412923200google scholar: lookup
  30. Oz M, Libby T, Kivell B, Jaligam V, Ramamoorthy S, Shippenberg TS. Real-time, spatially resolved analysis of serotonin transporter activity and regulation using the fluorescent substrate, ASP+.. J Neurochem 2010 Aug;114(4):1019-29.
    pmc: PMC2930987pubmed: 20524964doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06828.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  31. Bönisch H. Extraneuronal transport of catecholamines.. Pharmacology 1980;21(2):93-108.
    pubmed: 6994136doi: 10.1159/000137422google scholar: lookup
  32. Villarroel-Espíndola F, Maldonado R, Mancilla H, vander Stelt K, Acuña AI, Covarrubias A, López C, Angulo C, Castro MA, Slebe JC, Durán J, García-Rocha M, Guinovart JJ, Concha II. Muscle glycogen synthase isoform is responsible for testicular glycogen synthesis: glycogen overproduction induces apoptosis in male germ cells.. J Cell Biochem 2013 Jul;114(7):1653-64.
    pubmed: 23386391doi: 10.1002/jcb.24507google scholar: lookup
  33. Bradford MM. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding.. Anal Biochem 1976 May 7;72:248-54.
    pubmed: 942051doi: 10.1006/abio.1976.9999google scholar: lookup
  34. Cortés-Gutiérrez EI, Crespo F, Gosálvez A, Dávila-Rodríguez MI, López-Fernández C, Gósalvez J. DNA fragmentation in frozen sperm of Equus asinus: Zamorano-Leonés, a breed at risk of extinction.. Theriogenology 2008 May;69(8):1022-32.
    pubmed: 18367243doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.02.002google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Blaurock J, Baumann S, Grunewald S, Schiller J, Engel KM. Metabolomics of Human Semen: A Review of Different Analytical Methods to Unravel Biomarkers for Male Fertility Disorders.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Aug 12;23(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms23169031pubmed: 36012302google scholar: lookup
  2. Lawlor M, Zigo M, Kerns K, Cho IK, Easley Iv CA, Sutovsky P. Spermatozoan Metabolism as a Non-Traditional Model for the Study of Huntington's Disease.. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 28;23(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms23137163pubmed: 35806166google scholar: lookup
  3. Keyser S, van der Horst G, Maree L. Progesterone, Myo-Inositol, Dopamine and Prolactin Present in Follicular Fluid Have Differential Effects on Sperm Motility Subpopulations.. Life (Basel) 2021 Nov 17;11(11).
    doi: 10.3390/life11111250pubmed: 34833125google scholar: lookup
  4. Harlev A, Henkel R, Samanta L, Agarwal A. Ritalinic Acid Stimulates Human Sperm Motility and Maintains Vitality In Vitro.. World J Mens Health 2020 Jan;38(1):61-67.
    doi: 10.5534/wjmh.180127pubmed: 31081298google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.