In guinea pig spermatozoa, the procaine-promoted synchronous acrosome reaction results in highly fertile cells exhibiting normal F-actin distribution.
In guinea pig spermatozoa, procaine induces Ca(2+) independent hyperactivated motility suggestive of sperm capacitation. Nonetheless, in the presence of high extracellular Ca(2+), procaine increases cytoplasmic Ca(2+). We analyze the procaine effect on the acrosome reaction (AR) processes in guinea pig spermatozoa. Results indicated that: (i) in spermatozoa pre-incubated 5-30 min in MCM-PLG medium, procaine produced synchronous AR, (ii) the acrosome-reacted sperm number increased with the capacitation period before procaine treatment and with procaine concentration, (iii) acrosome reaction was blocked when Ca(2+) was omitted, (iv) plasma membrane-outer acrosomal membrane fusion started within 2 min after procaine treatment, (v) in acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, actin polymerization occurred and F-actin was located in the equatorial and post-acrosomal regions and (vi) procaine treatment resulted in highly fertile acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. This is the first report indicating that procaine promotes synchronic AR in mammalian spermatozoa. If procaine promotes premature AR of spermatozoa in vivo, it might be a factor for infertility in patients exposed to this local anesthetic.
Sánchez-Gutiérrez
Manuel
M
Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Apdo. Postal 14740, 07000 México D.F., México.
Delgado-Buenrostro
Norma Laura
NL
Zárate-Grande
Margarita
M
Uribe
Salvador
S
Mújica
Adela
A
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006224:Cricetinae; D003470:Culture Media; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D011343:Procaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D011419:Propidium; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D000199:Actins; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D011419:Propidium; D011343:Procaine; D002118:Calcium