The biological effects of prostaglandins on human sperm function

Abstract

Prostaglandins are a group of essential hormone-like eicosanoids that play an important role in inflammatory processes in the human body. They have been found in the seminal fluid as well as uterine and oviductal secretions, and may have effects on human spermatozoa function, but the effects of prostaglandins on sperm are not fully understood yet. In this study, the effects of the different prostaglandins (PGD2, PGE1, PGE2, PGF2α and PGI2) on human sperm function were examined with regard to motility, viability, capacitation and spontaneous acrosome reaction, and the expression of prostaglandin receptors PGDP1, PGEP1, PGEP2, PGEP4, PGFP, PGIP were studied by western blotting. Our results showed that PGD2, PGE2 and PGF2α could significantly (p < 0.05) reduce sperm progressive motility rate, and PGI2 could significantly (p < 0.05) reduce amplitude of lateral head displacement at the high treatment concentration of 100µM, while PGE1 had no effect on sperm motility parameters at all concentrations. All prostaglandins had no effect on sperm viability. Only PGE1 and PGE2 were found to increase sperm capacitation and spontaneous acrosome reaction significantly (p < 0.05). None of theprostaglandin receptors (PGDP1, PGEP1, PGEP2, PGEP4, PGFP, PGIP) were found expressed in human sperm lysate by Western blotting. In conclusion, PGD2, PGE2, and PGF2α showed inhibitory effect on some aspects of sperm motility at a high concentration of 100 M. PGE1 and PGE2 may have dose-dependent effect in enhancing human sperm capacitation and spontaneous acrosome reaction. Prostaglandins may exert their action on human sperm function through non-classical pathways.