Abstract
Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the (i) regulatory role of G i -like protein during the acrosome reaction (AR) of normal sperm donors and (ii) the role of intact acrosomes during sperm–zona binding.
Methods: The acrosomal exocytosis of spermatozoa incubated with solubilized zona pellucida (ZP) at a final concentration of 1 ZP/μl was compared with 10 μM calcium ionophore A23187 and 30% (v/v) pooled human follicular fluid (HFF). Spermatozoa were incubated with 1, 10, and 100 ng/ml pertussis toxin (PT) during capacitation to functionally inactivate the G i -like protein. The sperm–zona binding potential of 100 ng/ml PT-treated spermatozoa followed, by exposure to 1 ZP/μl, revealed significantly higher zona-bound spermatozoa compared to controls treated with 1 ZP/μl only.
Results: PT treatment of spermatozoa did not affect sperm motility, however, inhibited the percentage AR induced by solubilized ZP. In contrast, the A23187- and HFF-induced ARs were not sensitive to PT treatment. PT inhibition of the ZP-induced AR occurred in a concentration-dependent manner, with maximal effects observed at 100 ng/ml PT.
Conclusions: In conclusion, it seems that PT-sensitive G i -like protein in human spermatozoa plays an important regulatory role in the AR induced by the human ZP, and this underlines the importance of intact acrosomes during sperm–zona binding.
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Bastiaan, H., Franken, D. & Wranz, P. G-Protein Regulation of the Solubilized Human Zona Pellucida-Mediated Acrosome Reaction and Zona Pellucida Binding. J Assist Reprod Genet 16, 332–336 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020462201291
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020462201291