Submitted September 12, 2007
Returned for revision November 19, 2007
Accepted March 27, 2008
Reproductive Technology
Extracellular Adenosine 5'-Triphosphate Alters Motility and Improves the Fertilizing Capability of Mouse Sperm
Esmeralda Rodriguez-Miranda ,
Mariano G. Buffone ,
Scott E. Edwards ,
Teri S. Ord ,
Kathleen Lin ,
Mary D. Sammel ,
George L. Gerton ,
Stuart B. Moss ,
and
Carmen J. Williams *
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: williamsc5{at}niehs.nih.gov.
Abstract
Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATPe) treatment of human sperm has been implicated in improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) results. We used the mouse model to investigate mechanisms of action of ATPe on sperm. ATPe treatment significantly enhanced IVF success as indicated by both rate of pronuclear formation and percentage cleavage to the 2-cell stage. However, ATPe did not increase the percentage of sperm undergoing spontaneous AE nor change the pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation normally observed in capacitated sperm. ATPe altered sperm motility parameters; in particular, both non-capacitated and capacitated sperm swam faster and straighter. The percentage of hyperactivated sperm did not increase in capacitated ATPe-treated sperm compared to control sperm. ATPe induced a rapid increase in the level of intracellular calcium that was inhibited by two distinct P2 purinergic receptor inhibitors, confirming that these receptors have an ionotropic role in sperm function. The observed motility changes likely explain, in part, the improved fertilizing capability when ATPe-treated sperm were used in IVF procedures and suggest a mechanism by which ATPe treatment may be beneficial for artificial reproductive techniques.
Key words:
Assisted Reproductive Technology •
Acrosome reaction •
Fertilization •
Sperm motility and transport •
purinergic receptor
