Estrogen suppresses melatonin-enhanced hyperactivation of hamster spermatozoa

抄録

Hamster sperm hyperactivation is enhanced by progesterone, and this progesterone-enhanced hyperactivation is suppressed by 17β-estradiol (17βE₂) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Although it has been indicated that melatonin also enhances hyperactivation, it is unknown whether melatonin-enhanced hyperactivation is also suppressed by 17βE₂ and GABA. In the present study, melatonin-enhanced hyperactivation was significantly suppressed by 17βE₂ but not by GABA. Moreover, suppression of melatonin-enhanced hyperactivation by 17βE₂ occurred through non-genomic regulation via the estrogen receptor (ER). These results suggest that enhancement of hyperactivation is regulated by melatonin and 17βE₂ through non-genomic regulation.