Caspase activation in human spermatozoa in response to physiological and pathological stimuli

These results suggest that Fas has no functional relevance in mediating caspase activation in human ejaculated spermatozoa. Although spermatozoal mitochondria are highly susceptible to specific agonists of apoptosis such as betulinic acid via caspase activation, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis appears to be caspase independent.