The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
The most recent articles from:
December 2006
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J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. · Dec 2006
Expression and localization of delta-, kappa-, and mu-opioid receptors in human spermatozoa and implications for sperm motility.
Endogenous opioid peptides signal through delta-, kappa-, and mu-opioid receptors. Some of these peptides such as endorphins and enkephalins are present in the male reproductive tract, but the presence of the corresponding receptors in human sperm cells has not yet been reported. ⋯ We report for first time the presence of functional delta-, kappa-, and mu-opioid receptors in human sperm membranes. These findings are indicative of a role for the opioid system in the regulation of sperm physiology.