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Mol. Hum. Reprod. Advance Access published online on September 28, 2005
Molecular Human Reproduction, doi:10.1093/molehr/gah226
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oupjournals.org
Received June 13, 2005
Revised July 28, 2005
Accepted August 18, 2005

Article

Bicarbonate and bovine serum albumin reversibly ‘switch’ capacitation-induced events in human spermatozoa

K. Bedu-Addo 1, L. Lefièvre 2, F.L.C. Moseley 3, C.L.R. Barratt 3, and S.J. Publicover 4*

1 School of Biosciences, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK; The authors equally contributed to this work
2 Reproductive Biology and Genetics Research Group, The Medical School, University of Birmingham; Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK; The authors equally contributed to this work
3 Reproductive Biology and Genetics Research Group, The Medical School, University of Birmingham; Assisted Conception Unit, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK
4 School of Biosciences, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
S.J. Publicover, E-mail: s.j.publicover{at}bham.ac.uk


  Abstract

We have investigated the reversibility of biochemical and physiological changes that occur upon suspension of ejaculated human spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation. Cells were swum up in a simple HEPES-based saline [lacking bicarbonate and bovine serum albumin (BSA)], then resuspended either in supplemented Earle’s balanced salt solution (sEBSS) (25 mM bicarbonate) with 0.3% BSA (for in vitro capacitation) or in medium-lacking bicarbonate and/or BSA. Progesterone-induced acrosome reaction (AR) developed during in vitro capacitation (6 h). A progesterone-induced [Ca2+]i signal was detectable in cells maintained in the simple HEPES-based saline, but upon transfer to sEBSS, the response increased three- to four-fold, saturating within <30 min. Serine/threonine phosphorylation saturated within minutes of resuspension, but tyrosine phosphorylation developed over 3 h. Return of cells to non-capacitating conditions caused reversal of all capacitation-dependent changes. The [Ca2+]i signal reverted to its ‘uncapacitated’ size within <30 min. Protein phosphorylation reversed gradually and could be reinduced (kinetics resembling the first response) upon resuspension in sEBSS. The ability of cells to undergo progesterone-induced AR fell to levels similar to those in uncapacitated cells within 1 h of resuspension in medium not supporting capacitation. Loss of protein phosphorylation occurred only in the absence of both bicarbonate and BSA, but effects on [Ca2+]i signalling and AR could be seen after removal of only one of these factors. We conclude that key events in the capacitation of human spermatozoa are both reversible and repeatable.

Keywords: calcium/cAMP/capacitation/sperm/phosphorylation.
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