Submitted October 30, 2007
Returned for revision November 25, 2007
Accepted April 18, 2008
Gamete Biology
Sperm Mitochondrial Integrity Is Not Required for Hyperactivated Motility, Zona Binding, or Acrosome Reaction in Rhesus Macaque
Pei-hsuan Hung ,
Marion G. Miller ,
Stuart A. Meyers ,
and
Catherine A. VandeVoort *
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cavandevoort{at}ucdavis.edu.
Abstract
Whether the main energy source for sperm motility is from oxidative phosphorylation or glycolysis has been long-debated in the field of reproductive biology. Using rhesus monkey as a model, we examined the role of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in sperm function by using alpha-chlorohydrin (ACH), a glycolysis inhibitor, and pentachlorophenol (PCP), an oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler. Sperm treated with ACH showed no change in percentage of motile sperm although sperm motion was impaired. The ACH-treated sperm did not display either hyperactivity or hyperactivation associated changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation. When treated with PCP, sperm motion parameters were only affected by the highest level of PCP (200 µM); however, PCP did not cause motility impairments even after chemical activation. Sperm treated with PCP were able to display hyperactivity and tyrosine phosphorylation after chemical activation. In contrast with motility measurements, treatment with either the glycolytic inhibitor or the oxidative phosphorylation inhibitor did not affect sperm-zona binding and zona-induced acrosome reaction. The results suggest glycolysis is essential to support sperm motility, hyperactivity, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation; while energy from oxidative phosphorylation is not necessary for hyperactivated sperm motility, tyrosine phosphorylation, sperm-zona binding, and acrosome reaction in rhesus macaque.
Key words:
Acrosome reaction •
Sperm •
Sperm capacitation
