[Study on the effect of integrin on human sperm activation].
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed to disclose whether the VLA-5 integrin on human sperm membrane takes part in the activation of human spermatozoa.


METHODS
Fluo-3/AM was coincubated with human spermatozoa. The change of intracellular calcium([Ca2+]i) was determined by flow cytometry when human sperms were exposed to Fibronectin(Fn) as the specific ligand of integrin VLA-5. Human sperm acrosome reaction(AR) rate was evaluated by triple-stain technique.


RESULTS
Fn significantly raised the AR rate (P < 0.05) and the level of [Ca2+]i (P < 0.01) in the spermatozoa of fertile men. But there was no significant rise in the level of [Ca2+]i in the spermatozoa of infertile men.


CONCLUSIONS
The VLA-5 integrin on human sperm membrane plays a role in the activation of sperm.
Xie
Yimin
Y
Department of Physiology, West China School of Basic and Forensic Medical Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yue
Limin
L
He
Yaping
Y
Zhang
Jinhu
J
Mao
Rongqiu
R
Lei
Song
S
Zheng
Yu
Y
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039081:Integrin alpha5beta1 / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism
D039081:Integrin alpha5beta1; D002118:Calcium