Forskolin stimulates porcine sperm capacitation by increasing calcium uptake.
Using the fluorescent calcium indicator fura-2, forskolin was found to dose-dependently cause an immediate increase in the concentration of intracellular free calcium of porcine cauda epididymal sperm. This stimulatory effect of forskolin is due to the enhancement of Ca2+ uptake by the verapamil-sensitive transporter on the sperm plasma membrane and results in the promotion of the sperm capacitation and subsequent acrosome reaction.
Okamura
N
N
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Tanba
M
M
Fukuda
A
A
Sugita
Y
Y
Nagai
T
T
D000177:Acrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
D005576:Colforsin; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D002118:Calcium