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Lack of Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channel Opening During the Calcium Influx Induced by Progesterone in Human Sperm. Effect of Calcium Channel Deactivation and Inactivation

From the Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México, D.F., México.

Correspondence to: Dr Marco T. González-Martínez, Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Apartado Postal 70-297, México, D.F., México (e-mail: tuliog{at}servidor.unam.mx).

Progesterone induces calcium influx and acrosomal exocytosis in human sperm. Pharmacologic evidence suggests that voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) are involved. In this study, membrane potential (Vm) and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) were monitored simultaneously to assess the effect of VDCC gating on the calcium influx triggered by progesterone. Holding the Vm to values that maintained VDCCs in a deactivated (-71 mV) closed state inhibited the calcium influx induced by progesterone by approximately 40%. At this Vm, the acrosomal reaction induced by progesterone, but not by A23187, was inhibited. However, when the Vm was held at -15 mV (which maintains VDCCs in an inactivated closed state), the progesterone-induced calcium influx was stimulated. Furthermore, the progesterone and voltage-dependent calcium influxes were additive. These findings indicate that progesterone does not produce VDCC gating in human sperm.

     Key words: Intracellular calcium, mammalian sperm, membrane potential, membrane potential-sensitive dyes.

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