PADUA – The molecules (receptors) that allow us to feel the heat on the skin, who got David Julius awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine, also play a role in male fecundity. It is the discovery of the researchers from the University of Padua, coordinated by Carlo Foresta and yes Andrea Di Nisio e Luca De Toni in two studies already published in “PLos One” and “International Journal of Molecular Science”. Scientists have in fact discovered the presence of the receptor for heat, “Trpv1”, on the membrane of the spermatozoa humans. The importance of this receptor is explained by the fact that the spermatozoon, in order to reach the oocyte and fertilize it, must perceive small temperature variations which allow it to go back to the egg cell.
The Paduan researchers have shown that this process, called «thermotaxis»Is regulated by the Trpv1 heat receptor. Furthermore, also in spermatozoa the Trpv1 receptor not only responds to heat, but also to capsaicin, the substance responsible for the burning sensation given by chilli. The activation of this receptor then determines important functional modifications of the spermatozoon that activate the mechanisms necessary for the fertilization, such as increased motility. On the contrary, when the receptor works less, the attractive capacity is lacking and therefore the fertilizing capacity sperm.
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