Effects of putative protease inhibitors on the acrosome reaction of sea urchin spermatozoa.
The acrosome reaction was induced by jelly coat factors, nigericin, or elevated pH. When spermatozoa were preincubated for 5 min in sea water maintained at pH 7.9 in the presence of 1 mM-phenylmethylsulphonyl-fluoride (PMSF), 1 mM-benzamidine, 0.1 mM-1-chloro-3-tosyl-amido-7-amino-2-heptanone (TLCK), 5 mM-diisopropylphosphofluoridate (DFP) or 5 mM-DFP that was previously hydrolysed, only DFP or its hydrolysis product(s) prevented formation of the acrosomal filament induced by jelly coat factors. When incubation with inhibitors was extended to 2 h only TLCK and its hydrolysis products inhibited the jelly-induced acrosome reaction. Only DFP significantly inhibited the acrosome reaction induced by elevated pH (9.0). Nigericin induced acrosome reactions in the presence of DFP or TLCK. These findings do not support the concept of an active role for acrosin in development of an acrosome reaction.
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001550:Benzamidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007531:Isoflurophate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010664:Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride / Q000494:pharmacology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D014107:Tosyllysine Chloromethyl Ketone / Q000494:pharmacology
D001550:Benzamidines; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D007531:Isoflurophate; D014107:Tosyllysine Chloromethyl Ketone; D010664:Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride; C032157:benzamidine