Sperm Mitochondrial Integrity Is Not Required for Hyperactivated Motility, Zona Binding, or Acrosome Reaction in the Rhesus Macaque

• Published in: Biology of reproduction 2008-08, Vol.79 (2), p.367-375
• Main Authors: HUNG, Pei-Hsuan, MILLER, Marion G, MEYERS, Stuart A, VANDEVOORT, Catherine A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrosome Reaction - drug effects; Acrosome Reaction - physiology; Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; alpha-Chlorohydrin - pharmacology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chemosterilants - pharmacology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycolysis - drug effects; Glycolysis - physiology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Macaca mulatta - physiology; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - drug effects; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial - physiology; Mitochondria - drug effects; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondria - physiology; Pentachlorophenol - pharmacology; Sperm Capacitation - drug effects; Sperm Capacitation - physiology; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Sperm Motility - physiology; Sperm-Ovum Interactions - drug effects; Sperm-Ovum Interactions - physiology; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - metabolism; Spermatozoa - physiology; Uncoupling Agents - pharmacology; Vertebrates: reproduction; Zona Pellucida - metabolism
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.066357

Whether the main energy source for sperm motility is from oxidative phosphorylation or glycolysis has been long-debated in the field of reproductive biology. Using the rhesus monkey as a model, we examined the role of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in sperm function by using alpha-chlorohydrin (ACH), a glycolysis inhibitor, and pentachlorophenol (PCP), an oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler. Sperm treated with ACH showed no change in percentage of motile sperm, although sperm motion was impaired. The ACH-treated sperm did not display either hyperactivity- or hyperactivation-associated changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation. When treated with PCP, sperm motion parameters were affected by the highest level of PCP (200 μM); however, PCP did not cause motility impairments even after chemical activation. Sperm treated with PCP were able to display hyperactivity and tyrosine phosphorylation after chemical activation. In contrast with motility measurements, treatment with either the glycolytic inhibitor or the oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor did not affect sperm-zona binding and zona-induced acrosome reaction. The results suggest glycolysis is essential to support sperm motility, hyperactivity, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation, while energy from oxidative phosphorylation is not necessary for hyperactivated sperm motility, tyrosine phosphorylation, sperm-zona binding, and acrosome reaction in the rhesus macaque.