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. 1999 Jul;16(6):332–336. doi: 10.1023/A:1020462201291

G-Protein Regulation of the Solubilized Human Zona Pellucida-Mediated Acrosome Reaction and Zona Pellucida Binding

Hadley Bastiaan 1, Daniel Franken 1, Peter Wranz 2
PMCID: PMC3455538  PMID: 10394531

Abstract

Purpose:The study aimed to evaluate the (i) regulatory role of Gi-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 Gi-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 Gi-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.

Keywords: acrosome reaction, G proteins, zona pellucida

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