title: Boar sperm plasma membrane Ca(2+)-selective channels in planar lipid bilayers.
abstract: Entry of Ca2+ through Ca2+ channels is thought to trigger the acrosome reaction of spermatozoa during fertilization. Antagonists of the L-type Ca2+ channel are known to prevent the intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+) increase and inhibit acrosomal exocytosis in mammalian sperm. Planar bilayer recordings were used to study Ca2- channels incorporated from partially purified boar sperm plasma membranes. With symmetrical 50 mM NaCl and 100 mM BaCl2 on the cis side, single-channel events consistent with Ba2+ flux from cis to trans were observed. These channels were activated by the dihydropyridine agonist (+/-)BAY K 8644 and blocked by the antagonist nitrendipine. Sperm Ca2- channels did not require depolarization for activation and did not inactivate. The (+/-)BAY K 8644 and (S-)BAY K 8644 enantiomers increased apparent open time in a dose-dependent [half-maximal activity constant (K0.5) = 0.9 and 0.3 microM, respectively] manner. Dihydropyridine antagonists nitrendipine (K0.5 = 0.5 microM) and (R+)BAY K 8644 (K0.5 = 2.8 microM) decreased apparent open times. The channels described in this report share some properties with brain, cardiac, and skeletal muscle t tubule Ca2+ channels and may be involved in increasing Cai2+ before the acrosome reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901, USA.
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tiwari-Woodruff
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004095:Dihydropyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008297:Male; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D004095:Dihydropyridines; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D009568:Nitrendipine