Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
Published on: December 30, 2014
Human sperm express a functional androgen receptor: effects on PI3K/AKT pathway
Saveria Aquila1, Emilia Middea, Stefania Catalano
1Department of Pharmaco-Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy.
Background:
Results from mice lacking the androgen receptor (AR) showed that it is critical for the proper development and function of the testes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a functional AR is present in human sperm.
Methods:
The expression of AR and its effects on sperm were evaluated by RT-PCR, Western Blot, Immunocytochemistry, PI3Kinase and DNA laddering assays.
Results:
We showed in human sperm that AR is located at the head region. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), in a dose-dependent manner, leads to the rapid phosphorylation of the AR on tyrosine, serine and threonine residues and this effect was reduced by the AR antagonist hydroxyflutamide (OH-Flut). The effects of AR were evaluated on the phosphoinositide-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway. Specifically, 0.1 and 1 nM DHT stimulated PI3K activity, whereas 10 nM DHT decreased PI3K activity and levels of p-AKT S473 and p-AKT T308, p-BCL2, and enhanced phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) phosphorylation. In addition, 10 nM DHT was able to induce the cleavage of caspases 8, 9 and 3 and cause DNA laddering, and these effects were reversed either by casodex or OHFlut. By using wortmannin, a specific PI3K inhibitor, the cleavage of caspase 3 was reproduced, confirming that in sperm the PI3K/AKT pathway is involved in caspase activation.
Conclusions:
Human sperm express a functional AR that have the ability to modulate the PI3K/AKT pathway, on the basis of androgen concentration.
Related Concept Videos
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Testosterone: Functions and Regulation
Spermatogenesis
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
