title: Regulation of human sperm capacitation by a cholesterol efflux-stimulated signal transduction pathway leading to protein kinase A-mediated up-regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation.
abstract: Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is an important intracellular event accompanying the in-vitro capacitation of mouse, bovine and human spermatozoa. Here, we demonstrate that bovine serum albumin (BSA) and NaHCO(3) are required for protein tyrosine phosphorylation in ejaculated human spermatozoa. The absence of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in media minus these two constituents could be recovered by addition to the media of cAMP analogues and/or phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Since BSA is postulated to modulate capacitation by removal of cholesterol from the sperm plasma membrane, we determined whether cholesterol release leads to changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Incubation of spermatozoa in media containing BSA resulted in the release of significant amounts of cholesterol when compared with media devoid of BSA. Preloading BSA with cholesterol-SO(4) inhibited protein tyrosine phosphorylation, as well as capacitation, and this inhibitory effect was overcome by the addition of dibutyryl cAMP plus isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). The functional significance of BSA-mediated cholesterol release, protein tyrosine phosphorylation and capacitation was confirmed by examining the effects of the cholesterol-binding heptasaccharides, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or OH-propyl-beta-cyclodextrin. Both cyclodextrins caused cholesterol efflux from the spermatozoa, increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and stimulated capacitation. Therefore, cholesterol release is associated with the activation of a signal transduction pathway involving protein kinase A and tyrosine kinase second messenger systems, and resulting in protein tyrosine phosphorylation and capacitation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, Room 1315, Biomedical Research Building II, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6142, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Osheroff
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Visconti
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Travis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kopf
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D003505:Cyclodextrins; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D012709:Serum Albumin; D047392:beta-Cyclodextrins; D014443:Tyrosine; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D002784:Cholesterol; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; C031215:betadex; C007045:cholesteryl sulfate