Progesterone action through aggregation of a receptor on the sperm plasma membrane.
Rapid steroid effects, reported in several cell types, have pointed out the possibility of non-genomic mechanisms of action, presumably on cell surface receptors. Here we analyzed the effects of antibody-mediated aggregation of a novel type of progesterone receptor on the plasma membrane of human sperm cells. We report that aggregation of hormone-receptor complexes induces Ca2+ influx and a Ca(2+)-dependent exocytotic event in this system. These data suggest a possible mechanism for rapid steroid-induced events. Further research is warranted to examined if a similar mechanism is involved in rapid steroid effects in other cell types.
Tesarik
J
J
INSERM, Unité Clamart, France.
Mendoza
C
C
Moos
J
J
Fénichel
P
P
Fehlmann
M
M
D001692:Biological Transport; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
D002413:Cations, Divalent; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D002118:Calcium