Modification of the metabolism of rat epididymal spermatozoa by spermine.

Spermine (1 to 10 mM) markedly enhanced (2- to 7-fold) the formation of labelled lactate from radioactive fructose in rat epididymal spermatozoa $\text{in vitro}$. The combination of spermine and calcium (1 mM), the latter ion inconsistently stimulating the formation of carbon dioxide and lactate from fructose, resulted in a striking synergistic stimulation of the fructolysis in epididymal spermatozoa. The production of lactate from fructose in the presence of spermine and calcium increased 5- to 30-fold over that in normal Ringer solution. Spermidine, but not putrescine, also stimulated the formation of lactate from fructose in epididymal spermatozoa. While stimulating the aerobic fructolysis the polyamines inhibited the formation of radioactive CO₂ from (2-¹⁴C)pyruvate thus apparently interfering with the reactions of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In this respect, however, oxidized spermine {N,N′-bis(3-propion-aldehyde)-1,4-diaminobutane} was far more effective.Spermine (and spermidine) being normal constituents of the secretions of male accessory sexual glands in most mammals could conceivably belong to the factors responsible for the “intensely glycolytic” nature of ejaculated spermatozoa.     

精胺抑制人精子的体外受精能力

以精子穿透去透明带仓鼠卵试验(SPA)为模型,评价了精胺对人精子体外受精能力的影响。精胺(0.25—8.0mmol/L)可抑制人精子体外获能和受精,其抑制作用与精胺浓度呈正相关,此种抑制作用是可逆的。用 HPLC 测定精子精胺含量表明,精子获能后精胺含量明显下降。dbcAMP(0.5—1.0mmol/L)或咖啡因(10mmol/L)可拮抗精胺抑制人精子体外获能。其拮抗作用随 dbcAMP 浓度而增强。钙离子载体 A 23187 2/μmol/L 或胰蛋白酶0.05%均可拮抗精胺抑制人精子穿卵率。上述结果提示,精胺可能通过降低精子 cAMP 含量和抑制钙内流或顶体酶活性,从而阻止人精子体外获能和受精。     

Futile substrate cycles in the glycolytic pathway of boar and rat spermatozoa and the effect of alpha-chlorohydrin

In boar spermatozoa incubated with 0.1 mM-glucose about 20 nmol glucose were converted to lactate and CO2 and the rate of futile substrate cycling between glucose and glucose 6-phosphate was about 6 nmol/10(8) spermatozoa/30 min. Futile cycling was increased in the presence of 0.05 or 1 mM-alpha-chlorohydrin but not to an extent sufficient to account for the rapid decline in ATP concentration observed under these conditions. These estimates include a substantial rate of fructose formation from fructose phosphates. The addition of 10 mM-L-lactate plus 1 mM-pyruvate protected the spermatozoa against the effect of alpha-chlorohydrin and glucose on the ATP concentration but increased futile substrate cycling. Substrate cycling between fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate could not be measured in boar spermatozoa but in rat spermatozoa its rate (nmol/10(8) spermatozoa/30 min) was about 10 under control condition and about 25 in the presence of 1 mM-alpha-chlorohydrin. This increase was insufficient to account for the decline in ATP concentration. In both species futile substrate cycling consumed a significant proportion of the ATP synthesis during lactate production but only about 5% of that produced in the oxidation of glucose to acetyl carnitine and CO2.     

Inhibitory effects of (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde on the metabolic activity of boar spermatozoa in vitro

(S)-alpha-Chlorohydrin and 3-chloro-1-hydroxyacetone inhibited the oxidative metabolism of fructose by boar spermatozoa only after a period of incubation in which they presumably underwent conversion to (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde, an inhibitor of sperm glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. With glycerol as substrate, 3-chloro-1-hydroxyacetone had a similar effect, (S)-alpha-chlorohydrin was ineffective while (R,S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde was immediately effective with either substrate. All three compounds caused the accumulation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate from fructose but not from glycerol which led to the conclusion that inhibition of triosephosphate isomerase was also associated with the anti-glycolytic action of (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde. (S)-3-Chlorolactaldehyde caused the depletion of ATP in incubates of boar spermatozoa metabolizing fructose but not glycerol. This suggests that futile substrate cycling may play an important function in the anti-glycolytic action of (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde and/or that boar spermatozoa can synthesize ATP from glycerol by a mechanism not involving the glycolytic pathway.     

Influence of various substrates on the acetylcarnitine:carnitine ratio in motile and immotile human spermatozoa

Human spermatozoa were incubated in albumin-containing Hepes-buffered modified Ringer's solution, in the presence or absence of externally supplied substrates. The acylated forms of carnitine were identified by bioautography. Incubation of the cells with propionate or n-valerate resulted in increased content of propionylcarnitine, but n-butyrate, isobutyrate, n-valerate, isovalerate, hexanoate or heptanoate did not result in the appearance of acylcarnitine of chain length C4-C7. The addition of methionine, valine or isoleucine (whose catabolic pathways should produce propionyl-CoA) to the incubation medium did not increase propionylcarnitine. In all cases acetylcarnitine was the major acylcarnitine in human spermatozoa. The ratio of acetylcarnitine:carnitine remained relatively constant in spermatozoa incubated without external substrate for up to 4 h. No significant change in the ratio was observed when glucose, fructose or citrate were present in the incubation medium. Sorbitol decreased the ratio slightly and aspartic acid slightly increased it. A more pronounced increase in the ratio was caused by lactate or pyruvate. This increase was observed in motile spermatozoa but not in samples from asthenospermic men, indicating that metabolic utilization of pyruvate and lactate may differ in motile and immotile cells.     

Substrate-dependent effect of 1-34 human parathyroid hormone fragment, dibutyryl cAMP and cAMP on gluconeogenesis in rabbit renal tubules

In the presence of 0.5 mM extracellular Ca2+ concentration both 1-34 human parathyroid hormone fragment (0.5 micrograms/ml) as well as 0.1 mM dibutyryl cAMP stimulated gluconeogenesis from lactate in renal tubules isolated from fed rabbits. However, these two compounds did not affect glucose synthesis from pyruvate as substrate. When 2.5 mM Ca2+ was present the stimulatory effect of the hormone fragment on gluconeogenesis from lactate was not detected but dibutyryl cAMP increased markedly the rate of glucose formation from lactate, dihydroxyacetone and glutamate, and inhibited this process from pyruvate and malate. Moreover, dibutyryl cAMP was ineffective in the presence of either 2-oxoglutarate or fructose as substrate. Similar changes in glucose formation were caused by 0.1 mM cAMP. As concluded from the 'crossover' plot the stimulatory effect of dibutyryl cAMP on glucose formation from lactate may result from an acceleration of pyruvate carboxylation due to an increase of intramitochondrial acetyl-CoA, while an inhibition by this compound of gluconeogenesis from pyruvate is likely due to an elevation of mitochondrial NADH/NAD+ ratio, resulting in a decrease of generation of oxaloacetate, the substrate of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Dibutyryl cAMP decreased the conversion of fracture 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate in the presence of both substrates which may be secondary to an inhibition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.     

Importance of glycolysable substrates for in vitro capacitation of human spermatozoa

To investigate the importance of glycolysable substrate for supporting the ability of human sperm to capacitate and penetrate oocytes in vitro, washed spermatozoa were incubated with or without various sugars in BWW culture medium containing pyruvate and lactate. Sperm penetration was assayed using zona-free hamster oocytes. After an 18-h preincubation, glucose (1 mg/ml) supported higher penetration of sperm into oocytes than either mannose or fructose (60.7% vs. 28.2% or 21.5%, respectively) at the same concentration. Penetration was even lower when medium contained the nonmetabolizable sugar galactose (2.1% at 1 mg/ml). On the other hand, higher concentrations (5 or 10 mg/ml) of glucose, but not fructose, suppressed penetration, provided the glucose was present throughout the 18-h preincubation. When caffeine, a stimulant of glycolysis in human sperm, was present along with glucose, sperm penetration was enhanced, but only after 6 h of sperm preincubation. This effect was not observed in glucose-free medium, however, where penetration remained low over a 10-h incubation period. In these experiments, the percentage of motile sperm was unaffected by treatment, but the quality of motility was diminished in the absence of glucose. We conclude that stimulation of glycolysis may promote capacitation of human spermatozoa in vitro and that optimization of penetrating ability of sperm is dependent upon both the type and concentration of glycolysable sugar present.     

Glycolytic enzyme activity is essential for domestic cat (Felis catus) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) sperm motility and viability in a sugar-free medium

We have previously reported a lack of glucose uptake in domestic cat and cheetah spermatozoa, despite observing that these cells produce lactate at rates that correlate positively with sperm function. To elucidate the role of glycolysis in felid sperm energy production, we conducted a comparative study in the domestic cat and cheetah, with the hypothesis that sperm motility and viability are maintained in both species in the absence of glycolytic metabolism and are fueled by endogenous substrates. Washed ejaculates were incubated in chemically defined medium in the presence/absence of glucose and pyruvate. A second set of ejaculates was exposed to a chemical inhibitor of either lactate dehydrogenase (sodium oxamate) or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (alpha-chlorohydrin). Sperm function (motility and acrosomal integrity) and lactate production were assessed, and a subset of spermatozoa was assayed for intracellular glycogen. In both the cat and cheetah, sperm function was maintained without exogenous substrates and following lactate dehydrogenase inhibition. Lactate production occurred in the absence of exogenous hexoses, but only if pyruvate was present. Intracellular glycogen was not detected in spermatozoa from either species. Unexpectedly, glycolytic inhibition by alpha-chlorohydrin resulted in an immediate decline in sperm motility, particularly in the domestic cat. Collectively, our findings reveal an essential role of the glycolytic pathway in felid spermatozoa that is unrelated to hexose metabolism or lactate formation. Instead, glycolytic enzyme activity could be required for the metabolism of endogenous lipid-derived glycerol, with fatty acid oxidation providing the primary energy source in felid spermatozoa.     

Fructose transporter in human spermatozoa and small intestine is GLUT5.

We recently reported that the glucose transporter isoform, GLUT5, is expressed on the brush border membrane of human small intestinal enterocytes (Davidson, N. O., Hausman, A. M. L., Ifkovits, C. A., Buse, J. B., Gould, G. W., Burant, C. F., and Bell, G. I. (1992) Am. J. Physiol. 262, C795-C800). To define its role in sugar transport, human GLUT5 was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and its substrate specificity and kinetic properties determined. GLUT5 exhibits selectivity for fructose transport, as determined by inhibition studies, with a Km of 6 mM. In addition, fructose transport by GLUT5 is not inhibited by cytochalasin B, a competitive inhibitor of facilitative glucose transporters. RNA and protein blotting studies showed the presence of high levels of GLUT5 mRNA and protein in human testis and spermatozoa, and immunocytochemical studies localize GLUT5 to the plasma membrane of mature spermatids and spermatozoa. The biochemical properties and tissue distribution of GLUT5 are consistent with a physiological role for this protein as a fructose transporter.     

Zinc inhibition of hepatic fructose metabolism in rats

The ability of Zn to modulate key metabolic processes was investigated in a study of gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes from fasted rats. Zn (100 μM) inhibited glucose production from fructose by 41%, sorbitol by 28%; glycerol by 17%, and glyceraldehyde by 26%. Maximum inhibition of gluconeogenesis from fructose occurred at 25 μM Zn. Zn inhibited the rate of lactate production from fructose by 24% but not from sorbitol, glycerol, or glyceraldehyde. Fructose uptake by hepatocytes was not affected by Zn. A positive linear relationship (r=0.994) was obtained between inhibition by Zn of glucose and lactate production, indicating that a common step in both pathways is inhibited by Zn. The effect of Zn on fructokinase, aldolase-B, and triokinase activities was determined on semipurified rat liver enzyme preparations. Zn had no affect on triokinase activity but inhibited the two other enzymes in a dose-dependent manner, with the inhibition of aldolase-B being much greater than of fructokinase for concentrations of Zn between 2.5 and 20 μM. Zn increased the intracellular concentration of fructose-1-P in hepatocytes incubated with fructose, indicating a more potent Zn inhibition of aldolase-B than fructokinase. In addition, hepatocytes treated with Zn had decreased ATP and ADP concentrations, but had normal energy charge, suggesting an effect of Zn on adenine nucleotide degradation or synthesis. The demonstration that Zn inhibits two enzymes in fructose metabolism adds to the growing list of metabolic pathways that are catalyzed by enzymes that are sensitive to Zn.     

Substrate-dependent effect of 1–34 human parathyroid hormone fragment,dibutyryl cAMP and cAMP on gluconeogenesis in rabbit renal tubules

In the presence of 0.5 mM extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration both 1–34 human parathyroid hormone fragment (0.5 μg/ml) as well as 0.1 mM dibutyryl cAMP stimulated gluconeogenesis from lactate in renal tubules isolated from fed rabbits. However, these two compounds did not affect glucose synthesis from pyruvate as substrate. When 2.5 mM Ca²⁺ was present the stimulatory effect of the hormone fragment on gluconeogenesis from lactate was not detected but dibutyryl cAMP increased markedly the rate of glucose formation from lactate, dihydroxyacetone and glutamate, and inhibited this process from pyruvate and malate. Moreover, dibutyryl cAMP was ineffective in the presence of either 2-oxoglutarate or fructose as substrate. Similar changes in glucose formation were caused by 0.1 mM cAMP. As concluded from the ‘crossover’ plot the stimulatory effect of dibutyryl cAMP on glucose formation from lactate may result from an acceleration of pyruvate carboxylation due to an increase of intramitochondrial acetyl-CoA, while an inhibition by this compound of gluconeogenesis from pyruvate is likely due to an elevation of mitochondrial NADH/NAD⁺ ratio, resulting in a decrease of generation of oxaloacetate, the substrate of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Dibutyryl cAMP decreased the conversion of fracture 1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6-phosphate in the presence of both substrates which may be secondary to an inhibition of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase.     

The cause of hepatic accumulation of fructose 1-phosphate on fructose loading

1. The changes in the metabolite content in freeze-clamped livers of fed rats occurring on perfusion with 10mm-d-fructose have been examined. 2. The most striking effects of fructose were an accumulation of fructose 1-phosphate, as already known, up to 8.7mumol/g of liver within 10min, a loss of total adenine nucleotides (up to 35% after 40min) with a decrease in the ATP content to 23% within 10min, a sevenfold rise in the concentration of IMP to 1.1mumol/g and an eightfold rise of alpha-glycerophosphate to 1.1mumol/g. 3. There was a transient decrease in P(i) from 4.2 to 1.7mumol/g. Within 40min the P(i) content recovered to the normal value, probably because of an uptake of P(i) from the perfusion medium. 4. The degradation of the adenine nucleotides beyond the stage of AMP can be accounted for by the decrease of ATP and P(i). As ATP inhibits 5-nucleotidase, and as P(i) inhibits AMP deaminase any AMP arising in the tissue is liable to undergo dephosphorylation or deamination under the conditions occurring after fructose loading. 5. The content of lactate increased to 4.3mumol/g at 80min; pyruvate also increased and the [lactate]/[pyruvate] ratio remained within physiological limits. 6. The concentration of free fructose within the liver remained much below that in the perfusion medium, indicating that the rate of penetration of fructose into the tissue was lower than the rate of utilization. 7. The fission of fructose 1-phosphate by liver aldolase is inhibited by several phosphorylated intermediates, especially by IMP. This inhibition is competitive with a K(i) of 0.1mm. 8. The maximal rates of the enzymes synthesizing and splitting fructose 1-phosphate are about equal. The accumulation of fructose 1-phosphate on fructose loading is due to the inhibition of the fission of fructose 1-phosphate by the IMP arising from the degradation of the adenine nucleotides.     

Characterization of Ca2+ uptake by guinea pig epididymal spermatozoa

Comparative studies of Ca2+-uptake by guinea pig spermatozoa were performed with fresh epididymal sperm and with cells preincubated in a chemically defined, Ca2+-free medium for capacitation. Calcium uptake was negligible in fresh spermatozoa, but increased dramatically after 20 min of incubation at 37 degrees C in the presence of pyruvate and lactate. Spermatozoa incubated in the absence of these substrates accumulated only 34% as much 45Ca2+ as was taken up by cells in complete medium. The monosaccharides glucose, fructose, and mannose and the nonmetabolizable sugars 2-deoxyglucose and sucrose inhibited the enhancement of Ca2+-permeability. In the presence of 6 mM sucrose 45Ca2+ uptake was not influenced by external sodium chloride concentration between 0 mM and 145 mM. The respiratory activity of the capacitated spermatozoa not only was higher than that of uncapacitated cells, but it was stimulated by Ca2+. No effect of Ca2+ on respiration of fresh spermatozoa was detected. An increase in calcium uptake was associated with increasing pH of the medium. It is possible that a regulatory mechanism through the calcium permeability of the plasma membrane of guinea pig spermatozoa exists and controls the development of physiological events related with the fertilization process. The sugar composition, the availability of the energy substrates lactate and pyruvate, and the pH of the reproductive tract fluids could play an important role in the accessibility of Ca2+ into the cells in vivo, as has been demonstrated in vitro. The enhancement of calcium permeability during the preincubation could be a useful indicator to verify if capacitation has occurred.     

Spermine down-regulates superoxide generation induced by fMet-Leu-Phe in electropermeabilized human neutrophils.

Effect of spermine, a naturally occurring polyamine, was investigated on superoxide generation in intact and electropermeabilized human neutrophils. Spermine suppressed N-formyl-methionyl leucyl phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced superoxide generation in permeabilized cells by reducing the rate and shortening the duration time. The inhibition was specific for spermine comparing with its precursor amines, spermidine and putrescine. The inhibition was not observed when cells were preincubated with spermine without permeabilization. Concanavalin A-induced superoxide generation was also down-regulated by spermine in permeabilized cells, but the activation induced by non receptor-mediated agonist (dioctanoylglycerol, phorbol myristate acetate, and arachidonate) was not affected by spermine. On the other hand, GTP-gamma-S-induced activation of superoxide generation was substantially suppressed by spermine. These results indicate that spermine inhibition occurs at a step prior to protein kinase C in signal transduction or in a pathway which is independent of the kinase.     

Production of (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde from (S)-alpha-chlorohydrin by boar spermatozoa and the inhibition of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in vitro

The (S)-isomer of the male antifertility agent alpha-chlorohydrin was metabolized by mature boar spermatozoa in vitro to (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde. This oxidative process, which did not occur when (R)-alpha-chlorohydrin was offered as a substrate, was catalysed by an NADP+-dependent dehydrogenase that converts glycerol to glyceraldehyde. (S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde, produced by this metabolic reaction or when added to suspensions of boar spermatozoa, was a specific inhibitor of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase as assessed by the accumulation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and the triosephosphates. When glycerol and (S)-alpha-chlorohydrin were added concomitantly to boar spermatozoa in vitro, the presence of glycerol decreased the degree of inhibition of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Extracts of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase that were obtained from boar spermatozoa incubated with (S)-alpha-chlorohydrin or (R,S)-3-chlorolactaldehyde showed significant reductions in their enzymic activity.     

Role of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in the regulation of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis in chicken liver

Glucagon and dibutyryl cyclic AMP inhibited glucose utilization and lowered fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels of hepatocytes prepared from fed chickens. Partially purified preparations of chicken liver 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase were activated and inhibited by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, respectively. The sensitivities of these enzymes and the changes observed in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels are consistent with an important role for this allosteric effector in hormonal regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in chicken liver. In contrast, oleate inhibition of glucose utilization by chicken hepatocytes occurred without change in fructose, 2,6-bisphosphate levels. Likewise, pyruvate inhibition of lactate gluconeogenesis in chicken hepatocytes cannot be explained by changes in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels. Exogenous glucose caused a marked increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate content of hepatocytes from fasted but not fed birds. Both glucagon and lactate prevented this glucose effect. Fasted chicken hepatocytes responded to lower glucose concentrations than fasted rat hepatocytes, perhaps reflecting the species difference in hexokinase isozymes.     

Interrelationship between drug oxidation ureogenesis and gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes

1. The effect of increased ureogenesis--provoked by NH4Cl and ornithine--on gluconeogenesis and aminopyrine oxidation was studied in isolated hepatocytes prepared from 24 hr starved mice; lactate or fructose was used as gluconeogenic precursor. 2. Increased ureogenesis caused about 40% inhibition both on aminopyrine oxidation and gluconeogenesis when lactate was added as gluconeogenic substrate. 3. On the other hand, only 10% inhibition of aminopyrine oxidation and about 15% inhibition of gluconeogenesis were observed when fructose was used as gluconeogenic precursor. 4. Aminopyrine has been reported to inhibit gluconeogenesis from fructose by 30% and from lactate by 85%. The inhibitory effect of the combined addition of aminopyrine, NH4Cl and ornithine on gluconeogenesis was also dependent on the applied gluconeogenic precursor. 5. The provoked ureogenesis by ammonia and ornithine was not inhibited by aminopyrine. N6, O2-dibutyryl cAMP known to cause an increase of gluconeogenesis a decrease of aminopyrine oxidation enhanced the inhibitory action of increased ureogenesis on aminopyrine oxidation and on gluconeogenesis further. 6. The role of NADPH in the regulation of drug oxidation and ureogenesis is underlined.     

Arginine activates glycolysis of goat epididymal spermatozoa: an NMR study.

The present study explores the mechanism underlying the action of L-arginine on the metabolic activity of spermatozoa. Goat epididymal spermatozoa were incubated with different concentrations of L-arginine to determine its effect on the utilization of glucose, fructose, and pyruvate. NMR techniques have been applied to elucidate the effect of L-arginine, L-lysine, and L-ornithine on the glycolysis of epididymal goat spermatozoa. Whereas 31P NMR has been used to estimate the change of pH in the presence of different concentrations of L-arginine, 13C NMR has been used to estimate the substrate consumption and lactate production. At optimal concentration of L-arginine, the forward metabolic rates have been found to increase by two to three times over control experiments. Arginine is not consumed in these reactions, but acts as an activator. Longitudinal relaxation time (T1) measurements indicate that the guanidino group of L-arginine plays an active role in binding to cells. The amino acid L-lysine is less effective, and L-ornithine is ineffective.     

Palmitate inhibits liver glycolysis. Involvement of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in the glucose/fatty acid cycle.

In hepatocytes from overnight-fasted rats incubated with glucose, palmitate decreased the production of lactate, the detritiation of [2-3H]- and [3-3H]-glucose, and the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. Similarly, perfusion of hearts from fed rats with beta-hydroxybutyrate resulted in an inhibition of the detritiation of [3-3H]glucose and a fall in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration. This fall could result from an increase in citrate (hepatocytes and heart) and sn-glycerol 3-bisphosphate concentration. It is suggested that a fall in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration participates in the inhibition of glycolysis by fatty acids and ketone bodies.