Sperm capacitation and fertility are regulated by serotonin and tryptophan

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K09435
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56030:Urology-related
• Research Institution: Dokkyo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Fujinoki Masakatsu 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (30316583)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 精子 / 超活性化運動 / 受精 / トリプトファン / セロトニン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In rodents, serotonin enhances sperm hyperactivation. Moreover, it increases the success of in vitro fertilization. In general, serotonin produces from tryptophan. In this study, serotonin was produced from tryptophan in rodent sperm and was secreted from rodent sperm. In addition, tryptophan increased the success of in vitro fertilization. Therefore, the results show that the enhancement of sperm hyperactivation and the increasing of the success of in vitro fertilization occur by autocrine of serotonin.

Free Research Field

アンドロロジー

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果により、少なくとも齧歯類精子においてトリプトファンからセロトニンを産生し自己分泌することによって超活性化運動の惹起・促進が起こり、さらにその結果として体外受精の成績が上がることが明らかとなった。精子がセロトニンを産生・分泌するという分泌細胞であり、自己分泌を介して受精調節を行うという報告はこれまでに存在せず、学術的インパクトは高いと考える。