Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 5, No. 4, 338-341,
April 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Chelation of intracellular zinc ions affects human sperm cell motility
Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
The effects of two different zinc chelators, diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC) and calcium ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (EDTA), in full semen samples and `swim-up' samples were investigated. DEDTC, which crosses cell membranes, and EDTA, which does not cross cell membranes, were added to semen samples in different concentrations. Sperm cell motility parameters were assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). It was found that very small concentrations (0.01 mM) of DEDTC immobilized the sperm cells within 80 min, while EDTA had no depressing effect at the concentrations used. In full semen samples EDTA enhanced straight line velocity (VSL) at concentrations of 1.0 and 0.5 mM; this effect was not found at higher concentrations. It is suggested that intracellular mitochondrial zinc ions play a crucial role for sperm cell motility, while loosely bound or free zinc ions in the seminal plasma exert a secondary role on human sperm cell motility.
CASA/chelator/human/semen/spermatozoa/zinc
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Laboratory of Reproductive Toxicology, Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. Yamaguchi, C. Miura, K. Kikuchi, F. T. Celino, T. Agusa, S. Tanabe, and T. Miura Zinc is an essential trace element for spermatogenesis PNAS, June 30, 2009; 106(26): 10859 - 10864. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Yoshida, N. Kawano, M. Yoshiike, M. Yoshida, T. Iwamoto, and M. Morisawa Physiological roles of semenogelin I and zinc in sperm motility and semen coagulation on ejaculation in humans Mol. Hum. Reprod., March 1, 2008; 14(3): 151 - 156. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||

