Action of cholinergic drugs on accumulation of TPMP+ on human spermatozoa

• Published in: Archives of andrology Vol. 28; no. 1; p. 19
• Main Authors: Calzada, L, Wens, M A, Salazar, E L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.1992
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - pharmacology; Biological Transport - drug effects; Biological Transport - physiology; Cell Membrane - chemistry; Cell Membrane - physiology; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Cell Membrane Permeability - drug effects; Cell Membrane Permeability - physiology; Humans; Male; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Membrane Potentials - physiology; Nicotine - pharmacology; Onium Compounds - analysis; Parasympathomimetics - pharmacology; Potassium - pharmacokinetics; Propranolol - pharmacology; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Sperm Motility - physiology; Spermatozoa - chemistry; Spermatozoa - physiology; Spermatozoa - ultrastructure; Trityl Compounds - analysis
• ISSN: 0148-5016
• DOI: 10.3109/01485019208987675

Neurotransmitters or antagonists with nicotinic- or acetylcholine-type receptors were utilized to measure the accumulation of the radiolabeled lipophilic cation triphenylmethylphosphonium (TPMP+) on the plasma membrane of human sperm. Washed sperm incubated in the presence of TPMP+ in a low-K+ or high-K+ medium were allowed to take up the cation to a steady state (i.e., 20 min at 37 degrees C). The difference between TPMP+ in each incubation medium was inserted in the Nernst equation yielding a resting membrane potential of -69 +/- 2 mV. The addition of nicotine or acetylcholine to the low-K+ and high-K+ medium induced a hyperpolarization of 17% and 20%, respectively. In the presence of propranolol the membrane potential decreased by 44%. The association of nicotinic or acetylcholine receptor on human sperm or adrenergic beta-receptor blocking agent may alter the ionic permeability of the membrane, possibly due to hyperpolarization or depolarization.