title: [Effects of estrogen on acrosome reaction and intracellular calcium in human spermatozoa and the possible mechanism concerned].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on the activation of human spermatozoa and the possible mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spermatozoa of fertile men were stimulated by E2 and the membrane impermeable conjugated 17beta-estradiol (E2-BSA) respectively. Then the acrosme reaction (AR) rate was determined by triple-stain technique and the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in spermatozoa was measured by flow cytometry. The changes of [Ca2+]i were measured again following the addition of E2 and E2-BSA in the calcium-free medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E2 significantly increased the AR rate and the [Ca2+]i in capacitated human spermatozoa, while it had no effects on the uncapacitated spermatozoa. E2-BSA also promoted AR and increased [Ca2+]i in the capacitated human spermatozoa. Additionally, the change of [Ca2+]i was absent in case that human spermatozoa were stimulated by E2 or E2-BSA in the calcium-free medium.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estrogen can activate human spermatozoa and such activation is probably mediated by the integrating of estrogen with the specific sites on human spermatozoa and thus causing the influx of extracellular calcium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yan-fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Li-min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Ya-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jin-hu
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C043090:estradiol-bovine serum albumin; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D004958:Estradiol; D002118:Calcium