Flow cytometry analysis reveals a decrease in intracellular sodium during sperm capacitation.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian sperm require time in the female tract in order to be able to fertilize an egg. The physiological changes that render the sperm able to fertilize are known as capacitation. Capacitation is associated with an increase in intracellular pH, an increase in intracellular calcium and phosphorylation of different proteins. This process is also accompanied by the hyperpolarization of the sperm plasma membrane potential. Recently, we presented evidence showing that epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC) are present in mature sperm and that ENaCs are blocked during capacitation. In the present work, we used flow cytometry to analyze changes in intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+](i)) during capacitation in individual cells. Our results indicate that capacitated sperm have lower Na+ concentration

SUBMITTER: Escoffier J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3283877 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature