Involvement of the calcium-specific protease, calpain, in the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa

We recently reported the novel finding that human spermatozoa contain the calcium (Ca2+)‐dependent protease, calpain. In somatic cells this protease mediates several cellular activities regulated by Ca2+ including membrane fusibility during cell‐to‐cell interactions. In this paper we examined the pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of andrology 2000-06, Vol.23 (3), p.163-168
Main Authors: Rojas, Francisco J., Moretti-Rojas, Ines
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies - immunology
calcium regulation
calcium-dependent proteases
calpain
Calpain - immunology
Calpain - metabolism
Cricetinae
Female
fertilizing capacity
human spermatozoa
Humans
Male
membrane fusion
oocyte penetration
Sperm-Ovum Interactions
Spermatozoa - immunology
Spermatozoa - metabolism
Spermatozoa - physiology
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Summary:We recently reported the novel finding that human spermatozoa contain the calcium (Ca2+)‐dependent protease, calpain. In somatic cells this protease mediates several cellular activities regulated by Ca2+ including membrane fusibility during cell‐to‐cell interactions. In this paper we examined the participation of sperm calpain in sperm–oocyte penetration, a process that is dependent on Ca2+ and involves membrane fusion between the two cells. Oocyte penetration was assessed using ejaculated spermatozoa from fertile men and zona‐free hamster oocytes. Penetration rate was impaired by the presence of the active‐site calpain inhibitor, calpain inhibitor‐I, in a dose‐dependent manner. At 1 mM, penetration scores were reduced by 65% (p 
ISSN:0105-6263
1365-2605
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2605.2000.00221.x