Steroid specificity of the human sperm membrane progesterone receptor
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2026

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
Published on: March 1, 2019
N J Alexander1, H K Kim, R R Blye
1Contraceptive Development Branch, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of several abeopregnane, steroidal heterocycles (A/B-transandrostano [2,3-d]isoxazole, and 17-spiroandrostano[2,3-c]furazan), and 6 alpha, 11 beta, 16 alpha-trisubstituted 19-norpregnadienedione on the influx of extracellular Ca2+ in human sperm. These steroidal compounds had minimal genomic progestational, androgenic, or estrogenic activity with the exception of 16 alpha-ethyl-6 alpha-methyl-11 beta-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19- norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione which was four times more progestational than progesterone. Some of the steroidal compounds, e.g., 16 alpha-ethyl-6 alpha-methyl-11 beta-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19-nor- pregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione and 2',3',4',5'-tetrahydrospiro[furan-2' beta, 17-androstano] [2,3-c]furazan produced an influx of Ca2+ into human spermatozoa. These studies indicate that high (10 microM) concentrations of certain steroidal compounds are selective for the sperm membrane progesterone receptor, since most of them have minimal genomic activity. The steroidal compounds that elicited an influx of Ca2+ caused an initial high influx but were not as potent as progesterone, since no effects were observed below 1 microM, whereas progesterone at 1 microM produced a maximum effect. Progesterone as well as the steroidal compounds caused a modest increase in the number of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. Molecular modeling revealed that 5 alpha-dihydro-2,3-fused and 4,4-dimethyl-5-ene-2,3-fused steroidal heterocycles possessing different conformations compared to that of progesterone are responsible for elevation of Ca2+. In conclusion, a unique non-genomic progesterone receptor is present on human spermatozoa and several steroidal compounds that do not have progestational effects may activate this sperm membrane receptor, resulting in Ca2+ influx.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Intracellular Hormone Receptors
Internal Receptors
Gonadal and Placental Hormones
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair growth — and...
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Types of Receptors: Internal Receptors
Similar to membrane-bound receptors, the binding of a ligand to the intracellular receptor of causes a conformational change in the...
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...

