Subunit composition and function of GABAA receptors of rat spermatozoa

GABA triggers mammalian sperm acrosome reaction (AR). Here, evidence is presented, showing that rat spermatozoa contain GABAA receptors, composed of alpha5, beta1 and beta3 subunits. The effects of GABAA receptor agonist and antagonist on the induction of AR in rat spermatozoa were assessed using th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurochemical research 2002-03, Vol.27 (3), p.195-199
Main Authors: JING HUA HU, XIAO BING HE, QI WU, YUAN CHANG YAN, KOIDE, S. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Base Sequence
Bicuculline - pharmacology
Biological and medical sciences
DNA Primers
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Morphology. Physiology
Muscimol - pharmacology
Picrotoxin - pharmacology
Protein Subunits
Rats
Receptors, GABA-A - chemistry
Receptors, GABA-A - genetics
Receptors, GABA-A - physiology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - genetics
Spermatozoa - physiology
Transcription, Genetic
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:GABA triggers mammalian sperm acrosome reaction (AR). Here, evidence is presented, showing that rat spermatozoa contain GABAA receptors, composed of alpha5, beta1 and beta3 subunits. The effects of GABAA receptor agonist and antagonist on the induction of AR in rat spermatozoa were assessed using the chlortetracycline assay. Muscimol, a GABAA receptor agonist, triggered AR; whereas bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist and picrotoxin, a GABAA receptor/Cl- channel blocker, inhibited the ability of GABA or progesterone to induce AR. In conclusion, GABAA receptors appear to mediate the action of progesterone in inducing AR in rat spermatozoa.
ISSN:0364-3190
1573-6903
DOI:10.1023/A:1014876303062