Molecular Mechanism for Human Sperm Chemotaxis Mediated by Progesterone
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 8 December 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 4 (12), e8211
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008211
Abstract
Sperm chemotaxis is a chemical guiding mechanism that may orient spermatozoa to the egg surface. A picomolar concentration gradient of Progesterone (P), the main steroidal component secreted by the cumulus cells that surround the egg, attracts human spermatozoa. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of sperm chemotaxis mediated by P, we combine the application of different strategies: pharmacological inhibition of signaling molecules, measurements of the concentrations of second messengers and activation of the chemotactic signaling. Our data implicate a number of classic signal transduction pathways in the response and provide a model for the sequence of events, where the tmAC-cAMP-PKA pathway is activated first, followed by protein tyrosine phosphorylation (equatorial band and flagellum) and calcium mobilization (through IP3R and SOC channels), whereas the sGC-cGMP-PKG cascade, is activated later. These events lead to sperm orientation towards the source of the chemoattractant. The finding proposes a molecular mechanism which contributes to the understanding of the signal transduction pathway that takes place in a physiological process as chemotaxis.This publication has 61 references indexed in Scilit:
- Two distinct intracellular Ca2+-release components act in opposite ways in the regulation of the auxin-dependent MIA biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus cellsJournal of Experimental Botany, 2009
- Mobilisation of Ca2+ stores and flagellar regulation in human sperm by S-nitrosylation: a role for NO synthesised in the female reproductive tractDevelopment, 2008
- Membrane‐permeant Rab3A triggers acrosomal exocytosis in living human spermThe FASEB Journal, 2007
- Requirement of protein tyrosine kinase and phosphatase activities for human sperm exocytosisDevelopmental Biology, 2003
- Nifedipine reveals the existence of two discrete components of the progesterone-induced [Ca2+]i transient in human spermatozoaDevelopmental Biology, 2003
- The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-stimulated increase in aquaporin-5 levels in the apical plasma membrane in rat parotid acinar cells is coupled with activation of nitric oxide/cGMP signal transduction.Molecular Pharmacology, 2002
- Progesterone induces Ca++-dependent 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate increase in human sperm.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1996
- Effects of modulators of protein kinases and phosphatases on mouse sperm capacitationJournal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 1992
- Characterization of the turning response of dorsal root neurites toward nerve growth factor.The Journal of cell biology, 1980
- Characterization and localization of adenylyl cyclase in membrane vesicles and intact boar and human spermatozoaJournal of Cell Science, 1980