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Induction of Epididymal Boar Sperm Capacitation by pB1 and BSP-A1/-A2 Proteins, Members of the BSP Protein Family¹

Guy-Bernier Research Center,³ Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and Department of Medecine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H1T 2M4 Clinical Research Institute of Montreal,⁴ Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2W 2T2

ABSTRACT

A family of proteins designated BSP-A1, BSP-A2, BSP-A3, and BSP-30-kDa, collectively called BSP (bovine seminal plasma) proteins, constitute the major protein fraction of bull seminal plasma. BSP proteins can stimulate sperm capacitation by inducing cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from sperm. Boar seminal plasma contains one homologous protein of the BSP family, named pB1; however, its physiological role is still unknown. In the current study, we report a novel method to purify pB1 from boar seminal plasma by chondroitin sulfate B-affinity chromatography and reverse-phase-high performance liquid chromatography. We also studied the effect of pB1, BSP-A1/-A2, and whole boar seminal plasma on boar sperm capacitation. Boar epididymal sperm were washed, preincubated in noncapacitating medium containing pB1 (0, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 µg/ml), BSP-A1/-A2 (0 or 20 µg/ml) proteins, or whole seminal plasma (0, 250, 500, or 1000 µg/ml), then washed and incubated in capacitating medium. Acrosomal integrity was assessed by chlortetracycline staining. The status of sperm capacitation was evaluated by the capacity of sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction initiated by the addition of the calcium ionophore, A23187. The pB1 and BSP-A1/-A2 proteins increased epididymal sperm capacitation as compared with control (sperm preincubated without proteins). This effect reached a maximum level at 10 µg/ml pB1 and at 20 µg/ml BSP-A1/-A2 (2.3- and 2.2-fold higher than control, respectively). Whole boar seminal plasma did not induce sperm capacitation. In addition, pB1 bound to boar epididymal sperm and was lost during capacitation. These results indicate that BSP proteins and their homologs in other species induce sperm capacitation in a similar way.

acrosome reaction, fertilization, male reproductive tract, sperm, sperm capacitation

¹Supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Correspondence: ²Puttaswamy Manjunath, Centre de Recherche Guy-Bernier, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, 5415 boulevard de l'Assomption, Montreal, QC, Canada H1T 2M4. FAX: 1 514 252 3430; e-mail: puttaswamy.manjunath{at}umontreal.ca

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Lefebvre, G. Boileau, and P. Manjunath Recombinant expression and affinity purification of a novel epididymal human sperm-binding protein, BSPH1 Mol. Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2009; 15(2): 105 - 114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]