[Investigation of progesterone receptor on human sperm plasma membrane].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the localization and positive percentage of progesterone receptor (PR) on the human sperm surface.


METHODS
After in vitro capacitation, progesterone binding sites on the sperm were quantitatively analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum albumin-progesterone complex (P-BSA-FITC).


RESULTS
The spermatozoa stained by P-BSA-FITC mainly showed two labeling patterns, with the green fluorescence on the whole acrosomal region or the equatorial acrosomal region only and the stainless postacrosomal and tail regions. The percentage of progesterone-binding sperm was (30.2 +/- 2.4)%.


CONCLUSIONS
There is selective expression of PR on the human sperm acrosome surface.
Huo
Yong-Wei
YW
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
Qiu
Shu-Dong
SD
Xu
Yong-Jun
YJ
Cheng
Shao-Li
SL
Wu
Jie
J
Wang
Li-Rong
LR
Ge
Ling
L
D000328:Adult; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*
D011980:Receptors, Progesterone