Prevention of hypo‐osmotic swelling by detergents provides clues to the membrane structure of rat sperm

Cooper, Trevor G.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2605.1985.tb00829.x

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The reasons for the correlation between hypo-osmotic swelling and sperm fertilization of hamster eggs are as yet unknown; Cooper (1985) suggested that the difference in the osmotic response of mature and immature rat sperm was related to changes in their total cholesterol content. In addition, equatorial segment-reacted sperm (in-vitro culture studies have revealed that such sperm are 'aged') have a rich precipitate on the equatorial segment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of the hypo‐osmotic swelling test, semen score and the zona‐free hamster egg penetration assay in humans

Okada¹,

Inomata²,

Matsuhashi³

et al. 1990

Int J of Andrology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The correlation between the hypo-osmotic swelling test, the modified Eliasson score for human semen analysis and the hamster egg penetration assay was examined. The results showed a weak but significant correlation between the group of subjects with swelling rates below 50% and the above 80% group. These groups showed hamster egg penetration assay rates of 9 +/- 14% and 39 +/- 29%, respectively (P less than 0.035). A significant correlation was also found between modified Eliasson scores (17 +/- 10 and 5 +/- 7, respectively) and swelling rates below 50% and above 70% (P less than 0.001). These results suggest that spermatozoa showing a low swelling rate have a poor fertilizing capacity. Therefore, the swelling tests and analysis of the patients semen can be used to discriminate sperm quality.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of the hypo‐osmotic swelling test, semen score and the zona‐free hamster egg penetration assay in humans

Okada¹,

Inomata²,

Matsuhashi³

et al. 1990

Int J of Andrology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While it is known that the droplet has reached the end of the midpiece of rat sperm in the caput [Fray et al, 19721, it was demonstrated here that migration along the length of the midpiece is rapid and begins during passage of the sperm into the initial segments from the efferent ducts. This is much earlier than has been determined in boars [Hancock, 19551, bulls [Hancock, 19571, rams [Amann et al, 19821, and rabbits [Orgebin-Crist, 19671. The high proportion of caput sperm responding under osmotic conditions makes them suitable for the assay of lytic agents and, as in Cooper [1985], it was assumed that the agents prevent the appearance of swollen forms by damaging the sperm membranes. Palmitoylcarnitine is lytic to mitochondria [Bremer, 19621 and erythrocytes [Cho and Proulx, 19691 and the present study showed that rat spermatozoa were also susceptible to the lytic actions of long-chain acyl esters of carnitine and choline.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Osmotic swelling of maturing rat spermatozoa and Lysis of caput spermatozoa by acylcarnitines and acylcholines

Cooper

1986

Gamete Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The form that rat spermatozoa assume when swelling in hyposmotic media depends on the position of the cytoplasmic droplet, previous exposure to hypertonic media, and the stiffness of the flagellum. Bending at the end of the midpiece occurs when the swelling droplet is situated at this site; this occurs in midcaput cells, but sperm from more proximal sites do not bend in this fashion. Stiffening of caput sperm stored in vitro reduces the incidence of such midpiece bending but looping at the tip of the tail still occurs, and previous exposure of caput spermatozoa to hypertonic media also prevents hairpin bend formation. Mature sperm from the cauda are too stiff to form hairpin loops when placed in hypotonic media unless first treated with a penetrating disulphydryl‐reducing agent, after which swollen spherical vesicles can result from very flexible flagella confined within an intact membrane. Long‐chain acylcarnitines are more potent lytic agents than acylcholines, but, for both, chain lengths of 16 carbon atoms is optimal for preventing the swelling of rat caput sperm.

show abstract

“…The suggestion that such flagellar angulation was deleterious to sperm function was confirmed by the demonstration of a similar angulation that induces "backwards swimming" in spermatozoa treated with common cryoprotectants [17]. The phenomenon results in retroflexion of the head as a result of the entry of the highly permeant glycerol molecule that induces osmotic entry of water into the cytoplasm located at the end of the midpiece [18].…”

Section: The Importance Of Volume Regulation For Spermatozoamentioning

confidence: 90%

Involvement of Potassium and Chloride Channels and Other Transporters in Volume Regulation by Spermatozoa

Cooper¹,

Yeung²

2007

CPD

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spermatozoa produced in the testis undergo maturation in the epididymis which secretes an osmolyte-rich fluid that bathes the sperm cells. These cells need to maintain their volume after ejaculation when they first encounter hypo-osmolal environments of accessory gland fluids and later within the female tract. If they do not, they experience swelling that is manifested in flagellar angulation that prevents their passage through cervical mucus or the uterotubal junction and they never reach the oocytes. This is a cause of male infertility in domestic species and certain infertile transgenic mice in which flagellar angulation has been shown to indicate cell swelling as a consequence of reduced epididymal provision of osmolytes. The reduced volume regulating ability of spermatozoa from subfertile boars and bulls has prompted study of volume regulation of spermatozoa as a possible cause of human male infertility. Understanding this process may make its manipulation possible and could suggest better sperm handling and storage techniques and thus provide therapy for infertile patients. On the other hand, volume regulation is a potential target for contraception if mimicking the conditions expressed by the "sterile studs" were possible. The evidence for the presence of ion channels probably responsible for regulatory volume decreases in spermatozoa is reviewed here that implicate voltage-gated potassium channels (especially Kv1.5 (KCNA5), minK (KCNE1) and TASK2 (KCNK5)) and the chloride channels CLCN3 and CLNS1A. The involvement of ion co-transporters in volume regulation of spermatozoa is also discussed.

show abstract

Prevention of hypo‐osmotic swelling by detergents provides clues to the membrane structure of rat sperm

Cited by 13 publications

References 26 publications

Correlation of the hypo‐osmotic swelling test, semen score and the zona‐free hamster egg penetration assay in humans

Correlation of the hypo‐osmotic swelling test, semen score and the zona‐free hamster egg penetration assay in humans

Osmotic swelling of maturing rat spermatozoa and Lysis of caput spermatozoa by acylcarnitines and acylcholines

Involvement of Potassium and Chloride Channels and Other Transporters in Volume Regulation by Spermatozoa

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About