biostudies-literatureSanchez-Cardenas CEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaNICHD NIH HHSe21528https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8441833biostudies-literatureUnknown35(4)We have recently reported two different methodologies that improve sperm functionality. The first method involved transient exposure to the Ca²⁺ ionophore A₂₃₁₈₇ , and the second required sperm incubation in the absence of energy nutrients (starvation). Both methods were associated with an initial loss of motility followed by a rescue step involving ionophore removal or addition of energy metabolites, respectively. In this work, we show that starvation is accompanied by an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺ ]_i ). Additionally, the starved cells acquire a significantly enhanced capacity to undergo a progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Electrophysiological measurements show that CatSper channel remains active in starvation conditiFASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental BiologyStarvation induces an increase in intracellular calcium and potentiates the progesterone-induced mouse sperm acrosome reaction.PMC8441833R01 HD088571HD‐038082, HD‐088571314839 and Fronteras 71R01 HD038082Darszon ASanchez-Cardenas CDe la Vega-Beltran JLHernandez-Cruz AMartin-Hidalgo DOrta GRomarowski AVisconti PEfalseStarvation induces an increase in intracellular calcium and potentiates the progesterone-induced mouse sperm acrosome reaction.We have recently reported two different methodologies that improve sperm functionality. The first method involved transient exposure to the Ca²⁺ ionophore A₂₃₁₈₇ , and the second required sperm incubation in the absence of energy nutrients (starvation). Both methods were associated with an initial loss of motility followed by a rescue step involving ionophore removal or addition of energy metabolites, respectively. In this work, we show that starvation is accompanied by an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺ ]_i ). Additionally, the starved cells acquire a significantly enhanced capacity to undergo a progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Electrophysiological measurements show that CatSper channel remains active in starvation conditi2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Apr2025-04-22T09:20:25.792Z2025-04-05T22:59:28.423ZS-EPMC84418333374271310.1096/fj.202100122R10.1096/fj.202100122r