Cell Journal (Dec 2024)

Possible Role of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Glutamate Receptors in The Induction of Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

  • Hamid Reza Momeni,
  • Elham Farjad,
  • Abolghasem Naiemi,
  • Tahereh Etemadi,
  • Mohammad Hussein Abnosi,
  • Niloufar Darbandi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22074/cellj.2025.2043073.1690
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 12
pp. 682 – 687

Abstract

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Objective: Acrosome reaction is a receptor and Ca2+-dependent process. N-Methyl-D- aspartate (NMDA) glutamatereceptors are expressed in the human sperm and are involved in the Ca2+ influx. Therefore, the present study aimed toinvestigate whether these receptors could be concerned with the induction of acrosome reaction in the human sperm.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, human spermatozoa were divided into five groups: i. Spermatozoaat 0 hour, ii. Control group, iii. Spermatozoa treated with NMDA glutamate receptor agonist (L-glutamate), iv. Spermatozoatreated with NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist and agonist (MK-801 and L-glutamate respectively), and v. Spermatozoatreated with non-NMDA glutamate receptor agonist (Kainic acid). Spermatozoa from groups of 2 to 5 were incubated in a Co2 incubator for 60 minutes. To study the acrosome reaction in the different groups‚ the sperm samples were stained with Pisumsativum. In addition, cytosolic Ca2+ levels were assessed in the experimental groups. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’stest was used to determine the statistical significance of the data. A P<0.05 was considered significant.Results: In the present study, applying L-glutamate significantly (P<0.001) induced an acrosome reaction comparedto the control group. In the MK-801+ L-glutamate group, MK-801 could significantly (P=0.010) inhibit the induction ofacrosome reaction compared to the L-glutamate group. The application of kainic acid did not affect the induction ofacrosome reaction compared to the control group. In the L-glutamate group, cytosolic Ca2+ levels were significantly(P=0.044) increased when compared with the control group. The application of MK-801+ L-glutamate could significantly(P=0.047) reverse the effect of L-glutamate on cytosolic Ca2+ levels compared to the L-glutamate group.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that NMDA glutamate receptors play an essential role not only inthe increase of cytosolic Ca2+ levels but also in the induction of the acrosome reaction in human sperm.

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