Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol 3, 677-683, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
QX Shi, YY Yuan and ER Roldan
The sperm acrosome reaction takes place in response to progesterone and
zona pellucida. Progesterone may act on more than one type of surface
receptor, of which one is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A-like
receptor. Although there is direct evidence of GABA initiation of mouse
sperm acrosome reaction, there are conflicting results regarding GABA-
induced exocytosis in human spermatozoa. We have examined whether GABA
would initiate exocytosis in human spermatozoa using the chlortetracycline
assay and a zona-free hamster oocyte test. Human spermatozoa preincubated
for > or = 3 h in Biggers-Whitten-Whittingham medium with 0.35% bovine
serum albumin underwent acrosome reactions in response to GABA, with
maximal responses in spermatozoa preincubated for 9 h. The effect was
concentration-dependent. Preincubated spermatozoa treated with GABA were
able to fertilize a higher proportion of zona-free oocytes, with a higher
number of spermatozoa penetrating each oocyte. Exposure of preincubated
spermatozoa to GABA and progesterone together resulted in a higher
proportion of acrosome reactions than when each agonist was used alone. The
effect of GABA was mediated by the influx of extracellular Ca2+ because
inclusion of EGTA or the Ca2+ channel antagonist La3+ prevented
GABA-induced acrosome reactions. These results indicate that GABA can
initiate exocytosis in capacitated human spermatozoa and open up
possibilities for studies of signalling mechanisms activated upon occupancy
of the GABAA receptor present on the sperm surface.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) induces the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa
Department of Reproductive Physiology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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