Extracellular Adenosine 5'-Triphosphate Alters Motility and Improves the Fertilizing Capability of Mouse Sperm

• Published in: Biology of reproduction Vol. 79; no. 1; pp. 164 - 171
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Miranda, Esmeralda, Buffone, Mariano G, Edwards, Scott E, Ord, Teri S, Lin, Kathleen, Sammel, Mary D, Gerton, George L, Moss, Stuart B, Williams, Carmen J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison, WI Society for the Study of Reproduction, Inc 01.07.2008; Society for the Study of Reproduction
• Subjects: Acrosome - drug effects; Acrosome - metabolism; Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; Adenosine Triphosphate - pharmacology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium Signaling - drug effects; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Extracellular Space - metabolism; Female; Fertilization - drug effects; Fertilization in Vitro - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormone metabolism and regulation; Male; Mammalian male genital system; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred Strains; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism; Sperm Capacitation - drug effects; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Tyrosine - metabolism; Vertebrates: reproduction; hyperactivation; assisted reproductive technology; sperm motility and transport; Motility; Calcium; Fertilization; Semen; Rodentia; Assisted procreation; Acrosome reaction; Exocytosis; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Purinergic receptor; acrosomal exocytosis; intracellular calcium; ATP; extracellular ATP
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.065565

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 acrosomal exocytosis nor change the pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation normally observed in capacitated sperm. ATPe altered sperm motility parameters; in particular, both noncapacitated 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.