Spermaurin, an La1-like peptide from the venom of the scorpion Scorpio maurus palmatus , improves sperm motility and fertilization in different mammalian species

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><div class="boxTitle">STUDY QUESTION</div>Is it possible to identify original compounds that are able to enhance sperm motility from the venom of the scorpion <span style="font-style:italic;">Scorpio maurus palmatus</span>?<div class="boxTitle">SUMMARY ANSWER</div>We identified a potent disulfide-rich peptide (DRP) of 73 amino acids that significantly improved the motility of fresh and frozen-thawed sperm in different mammalian species, including human, and improved fertilization outcome in mouse IVF experiments.<div class="boxTitle">WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY</div>Any disturbance of sperm motility has a strong impact on fertilization and can lead to subfertility or infertility. Significant efforts have, therefore,  been made to identify pharmacological drugs that might improve sperm motility. Such compounds are particularly useful in azoospermia to improve testicular sperm extraction and in the domain of cryopreservation because the motility of frozen-thawed sperm is reduced.<div class="boxTitle">STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION</div>This was a basic science/medical research study aimed at identifying original compounds from a library of venoms able to enhance mammalian sperm motility, including human. We first identified in the venom of a scorpion <span style="font-style:italic;">S. m. palmatus</span> a fraction able to potentl...
Source: Molecular Human Reproduction - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research