Control of superoxide and nitric oxide formation during human sperm capacitation.

We studied the modulation of superoxide anion (O(2).(-)) and nitric oxide (NO.) generation during human sperm capacitation (changes needed for the acquisition of fertility). The production of NO. (diaminofluorescein-2 fluorescence assay), but not that of O(2).(-) (luminescence assay), related to sperm capacitation was blocked by inhibitors of protein kinase C, Akt, protein tyrosine kinase, etc., but not by those of protein kinase A. Extracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) controlled O(2).(-) synthesis but extra- and intracellular Ca(2+) regulated NO. formation. Zinc inhibited capacitation and formation of O(2).(-) and NO.. Zinc chelators (TPEN and EDTA) and sulfhydryl-targeted compounds (diamide and N-ethylmaleimide) stimulated capacitation and formation of O(2).(-) and NO.; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NMMA) prevented these events. Diphenyliodonium (flavoenzyme inhibitor) blocked capacitation and related O(2).(-) synthesis but promoted NO. formation, an effect canceled by SOD and L-NMMA. NADPH induced capacitation and NO. (but not O(2).(-)) synthesis and these events were blocked by L-NMMA and not by SOD. Integration of these data on O(2).(-) and NO. production during capacitation reinforces the concept that a complex, but flexible, network of factors is involved and probably is associated with rescue mechanisms, so that spermatozoa can achieve successful fertilization.