Investigations on the influence of bradykinin upon the motility of ram spermatozoa

Andrologia. 1991 Sep-Oct;23(5):357-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1991.tb02580.x.

Abstract

The influence of bradykinin, a component of the kallikrein-kinin system, on the motility of ram spermatozoa was examined in vitro (photometric motility evaluation, penetration test in cervical mucus of sheep, estimation of the percentage of forward-moving spermatozoa in the thermal resistance test). Whereas the motility was found to be influenced by bradykinin the acrosomal status remained undisturbed by it. With fresh as well as with frozen semen, the drug mainly increased the motility of samples with a low initial motility. With frozen semen, the penetration test revealed greater motility rises at 22 degrees C than at 38 degrees C. The importance of the results in relation to the angiotensin-converting enzyme (kininase) as well as the motility evaluation capabilities of the methods used are discussed. There was, however, no positive drug effect after adding the drug in the course of cryopreservation prior to freezing semen in straws although bradykinin solutions frozen in liquid nitrogen maintained their effectiveness.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bradykinin / administration & dosage
  • Bradykinin / pharmacology*
  • Cryopreservation
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Semen Preservation
  • Sheep
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / enzymology

Substances

  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • Bradykinin