title: Ion channels in boar sperm plasma membranes: characterization of a cation selective channel.
abstract: Plasma membranes isolated from cauda epididymal and ejaculated boar sperm were inserted into planar lipid bilayers and examined for the presence of ion channels. Channel fusion was frequently observed; the most prominent was a nonselective cation channel which conducted K, Na, Cs, Ca, and Ba. Channel opening did not show a strict dependence on voltage but was partially blocked by verapamil, nitrendipine, and ruthenium red. A channel with these characteristics was observed when plasma membranes were isolated by high-pressure nitrogen cavitation (650 psi, 78% sperm head plasma membranes) or at very low nitrogen pressures (50 psi, 90% sperm head plasma membranes), suggesting that this channel may be present in the plasma membrane overlying the sperm head.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000378:metabolism*; D002414:Cations, Monovalent / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004822:Epididymis; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012430:Ruthenium Red / Q000494:pharmacology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002413:Cations, Divalent; D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D007473:Ion Channels; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D012430:Ruthenium Red; D009568:Nitrendipine; D014700:Verapamil