pubmed:abstractText |
Human spermatozoa post-ejaculation show all elements of intrinsic (via mitochondria) and extrinsic (via death receptors) programmed cell death or apoptosis. One experimental therapeutic agent for malignant melanoma is betulinic acid (BA), a cytotoxic agent which induces intrinsic apoptosis via direct effects on mitochondria. To assess the potential side effects of systemic BA, its effects on motility, mitochondrial transmembrane potential (mTMP) and the apoptotic enzymes caspase-9 and -3, were monitored in human ejaculated spermatozoa.
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