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Capacitating action of GABA and progesterone in spermatozoa of human and guinea pig in vitro

Zhang Zhenhan, Chen Wenying, Zhi Qixian, Yuan Yuying, Lou Yuncao

Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences.Hangzhou 310013,Zhejiang；China

Abstract

The results showed that addition of GABA or P_(4) at 5 #mu#mol/L to the incubation medium resulted in a significant increase in the sum of "B" (characteristic of capacitated cell) and "AR" (acrosome recation) pattern (65.9% and 61.7% respectively), corresponding to capacitated spermatozoa in human, as compared to the control (37.3%). Likewise, the capacitating effect of GABA on spermatozoa in guinea pigs showed a concentration-dependent increase from 1 to 10 #mu#mol/L (AR: 27.0±1.9% to 51.6±2.8%). In addition, P_(4) potentiated the capacitating effect of GABA when combined with GABA in the capacitation stage. The capacitating effect of GABA was mimicked by a GABA_(A) receptor agonist muscimol. However, this effect was completely blocked by GABA_(A) receptor antagonist (-) -bicuculline and a GABA_(A)/Cl~(-) receptor antagonist picrotoxin. Furthermore, GABA markedly increased the HAM of P_(4) on guinea pig spermatozoa, which was mediated obviously by the influx of extracellular Ca~(2+) because the GABA-induced AR could be prevented by EGTA.

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Citing This Article：

Zhang Zhenhan, Chen Wenying, Zhi Qixian, Yuan Yuying, Lou Yuncao. Capacitating action of GABA and progesterone in spermatozoa of human and guinea pig in vitro. Acta Physiol Sin 2000; 52 (3): (in Chinese with English abstract).