Epigallocatechin gallate affects survival and metabolism of human sperm

Research Article Epigallocatechin gallate affects survival and metabolism of human sperm Francesca De Amicis1,2, Marta Santoro1,3, Carmela Guido1, Alessandra Russo1 andSaveria Aquila1,2,* Article first published online: 13 SEP 2012 DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201200190 © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim Issue Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Volume 56, Issue 11, pages 1655–1664, November 2012 Article has an altmetric score of 9 Additional Information(Show All) How to CiteAuthor InformationPublication History SEARCH Search Scope Search String Search Advanced >Saved Searches > ARTICLE TOOLS Get PDF (787K) Save to My Profile E-mail Link to this Article Export Citation for this Article Get Citation Alerts Request Permissions Share| Abstract Article References Cited By View Full Article (HTML) Enhanced Article (HTML) Get PDF (787K) Keywords: Epigallocatechin;Green tea;Reproduction;Sperm;Metabolism Scope Green tea and its major constituent epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have been extensively studied as potential treatment for a variety of diseases. We assessed the influence of EGCG on male fertilizing potential by analyzing different features of human sperm involved in capacitation process. Methods and results Using human normozoospermic samples, we evaluated the effect of EGCG (2 μM, 20 μM, 60 μM) on sperm activities. Our results showed that lower doses of EGCG (from 2 to 20 μM) increased cholesterol efflux and tyrosine phosphorylation through the estrogen receptor (ER), since ICI 182,780, a specific ER antagonist, abrogated 20 μM EGCG effects. Besides, we evidenced that EGCG at similar concentrations, increased sperm motility, viability, and phosphorylation of proteins controlling cell survival such as Bcl2, Akt, and Src, via ER. Furthermore, we observed reduction of triglycerides content, induction of lipase, as well as the G6PDH activity. These results address to an increase in energy expenditure. On the contrary, treatment of 60 μM EGCG produced opposite effects that still appear after ICI cotreatment. Conclusion These results provide a novel mechanism involving ERs through which low doses of EGCG exerted benefits to sperm physiology, also detected data evidence the adverse action of high EGCG concentrations probably related to its prooxidant and antiestrogenic potential. View Full Article (HTML) Enhanced Article (HTML) Get PDF (787K) More content like thisFind more content: like this article Find more content written by: Francesca De AmicisMarta SantoroCarmela GuidoAlessandra RussoSaveria Aquila