title: Exocytosis in spermatozoa in response to progesterone and zona pellucida.
abstract: Exocytosis in mammalian spermatozoa (the acrosome reaction) is a process essential for fertilization. Both progesterone and zona pellucida induce exocytosis in spermatozoa, which may encounter both during penetration of the oocyte's vestments. When mouse spermatozoa were exposed first to progesterone and then to zona pellucida, exocytosis was enhanced to a greater degree than that seen when the agonists were presented together or in the inverse order, which suggests that the steroid exerts a priming effect. Progesterone similarly primed the generation of intracellular messengers evoked by zona pellucida. The effects triggered by progesterone were mimicked by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and were blocked by bicuculline, which indicates that the steroid acts on a GABAA receptor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Development and Signalling, Babraham Institute, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Roldan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: Q X
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019269:Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010739:Phospholipase D / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004075:Diglycerides; D019269:Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate; D018129:Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates; D018079:Receptors, GABA; C037178:phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate; D011374:Progesterone; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010739:Phospholipase D; D002118:Calcium; D001640:Bicuculline