title: Effects of PDC-109 on bovine sperm functional activity in presence or absence of heparin.
abstract: PDC-109, a heparin-binding protein (from the seminal vesicles) that binds to sperm surface phospholipids at ejaculation, may modulate several aspects of sperm activity. The objectives of the present study were to determine: (1) in the presence or absence of heparin, the effects of exogenous PDC-109 on sperm motility (Makler chamber), viability (Hoechst 33258) and membrane functional integrity (hypoosmotic swelling test) of bovine spermatozoa; (2) the role of PDC-109 as a capacitation-inducing factor; and (3) its ability to induce the acrosome reaction (fluorescein staining). After 4-h capacitation in the presence of heparin, the addition of PDC-109 (0.5, 1.5 or 3.0mg/ml) significantly decreased the percentages of motile, progressive, and viable cells; these effects were also detected in the absence of heparin. However, PDC-109 elicited a twofold increase (from 14 to 28%) in the proportion of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, but only in the presence of heparin. Progesterone (10 microM) or angiotensin II (100 or 1000 nM) stimulated the acrosome reaction after capacitation in the presence of PDC-109 without heparin (from 10 to 17, 23 and 22%, respectively). In conclusion, PDC-109 appears to modulate sperm functional activity, with some effects manifest in the absence of heparin.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Santa Rosa 1085, Carrasco 5996, Granja de Funes, X5000ESU, Cordoba 5147, Argentina. mhcuneo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiol de Cuneo
authors.forename: Laura María
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Vincenti
authors.forename: Ana Carolina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Andrés Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ponce
authors.forename: Rubén Daniel
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ruiz
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D029607:Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D029607:Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins; C424303:seminal vesicle secretory protein 109, Bos taurus; D000804:Angiotensin II; D011374:Progesterone; D006493:Heparin