scholarly journals The permeability to calcium of pigeon erythrocyte ‘ghosts’ studied by using the calcium-activated luminescent protein, obelin

1975 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony K. Campbell ◽  
Robert L. Dormer
Keyword(s):  
Pyruvate Kinase ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Small Concentration ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Erythrocyte Ghosts ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Bivalent Cation ◽  
Low Concentration ◽  
Triton X ◽  
Obelia Geniculata

1. Obelin, the Ca2+-activated luminescent protein from the hydroid Obelia geniculata, was sealed inside pigeon erythrocyte ‘ghosts’ in order to investigate effects on their permeability of different methods of preparation and of the bivalent cation ionophore A23187. 2. Changes in free Ca2+ within the ‘ghosts’ were studied by following the rate of luminescence of obelin. The possibility that the obelin might have been released from the ‘ghosts’ during an experiment was investigated by studying the release of inulin and pyruvate kinase from the ‘ghosts’. Less than 10% of the inulin or pyruvate kinase sealed within the ‘ghosts’ was released under any of the experimental conditions. 3. Triton X-100 (0.1–10%, v/v) made the ‘ghosts’ highly permeable to Ca2+. In the presence of 1mm-Ca2+ and Triton, 95–100% of the obelin was utilized within 10–20s. 4. A time-course of resealing ‘ghosts’ at 37°C showed that over a period of 90min, the ‘ghosts’ became gradually less permeable to Ca2+. ‘Ghosts’ which remained at 0°C retained only a small concentration of obelin and ATP, and were highly permeable to Ca2+. 5. Erythrocyte ‘ghosts’ resealed for 30min at 20°C rather than 37°C were more permeable to Ca2+, as shown by the fact that 92% of the obelin in the ‘ghosts’ was utilized during the first 60s after the addition of 1mm-Ca2+, as opposed to 44% for ‘ghosts’ resealed at 37°C. 6. Haemolysis at pH6.0 rather than 7.0 resulted in ‘ghosts’ which were highly permeable to Ca2+ after resealing for 60min at 37°C. Of the obelin in the ‘ghosts’, produced by haemolysis at pH6.0, 90% was utilized in the first 60s after the addition of 1mm-Ca2+ compared with 23% for ‘ghosts’ produced at pH7.0. 7. The bivalent cation ionophore A23187 increased the permeability of the ‘ghosts’ to Ca2+. Maximum effects of the ionophore (16μg/ml) were obtained by preincubating the ‘ghosts’ with the ionophore A23187 (16μg/ml) in the presence of a low concentration of Mg2+ and in the absence of Ca2+.

scholarly journals Increased calcium-ion influx is a component of capacitation of spermatozoa

1978 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 549-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
J P Singh ◽  
D F Babcock ◽  
H A Lardy
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Ion ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Acrosome Reaction ◽  
Local Anaesthetics ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Net Uptake ◽  
Ion Influx ◽  
Triton X

Capacitation (modifications required for gamete fusion) is produced by incubating guinea-pig spermatozoa in vitro in a chemically defined medium. It is shown that during such incubation a net uptake of Ca2+ by the sperm occurs in two distinguishable phases. An initial loose association of Ca2+, possibly to surface sites, is unaffected by agents (Mg2+, inhibitors of mitochondiral function) that prevent or delay the exocytotic spermatozoal acrosome reaction. The time course of a secondary Ca2+ uptake parallels or slightly precedes the time course of the acrosome reaction. This parallelism is maintained during a variety of treatments that either expedite (local anaesthetics, ionophore A23187, Triton X-100) or delay (Mg2+, low external Ca2+) the acrosome reaction. We conclude that the secondary Ca2+ influx described herein apparently serves to link alterations of the spermatozoal membrane to subsequent contractile and secretory components of the capacitation sequence.

scholarly journals Decreased flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase during calcium ion movements induced by vasopressin, α-adrenergic agonists and the ionophore A23187 in perfused rat liver

1983 ◽  
Vol 212 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Sies ◽  
P Graf ◽  
D Crane
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Pyruvate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Perfused Liver ◽  
Perfused Rat Liver ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Adrenergic Agents ◽  
14Co2 Production

Vasopressin or alpha-adrenergic agents such as phenylephrine or adrenaline, but not glucagon, elicited an initial decrease in flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase assayed by 14CO2 production from [1-14C]pyruvate in perfused rat liver. This rapid decrease in 14CO2 production was maximal within 1-2 min of exposure, concomitant with a rise in effluent pyruvate concentration: a subsequent return towards initial values in both parameters was completed well before 5 min. This time course was superposed with Ca2+ efflux from perfused liver, maximal (at 116 nmol/min per g wet wt. of liver) at 1-2 min of exposure. The percentage of the active (dephospho) form of pyruvate dehydrogenase was not decreased at 2 min of exposure. The effect on flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase by phenylephrine was abolished by prazosine, phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine. Ionophore A23187 also caused a depression in 14CO2 production from [1-14C]pyruvate and a rise in effluent pyruvate concentration, but this effect was stable for longer times, and it was delayed when Ca2+ was omitted from the perfusion medium. Responses of phenylephrine and A23187 were not additive. The results demonstrate that under the experimental conditions employed in intact perfused liver, the mitochondrial multienzyme system of pyruvate dehydrogenase is sensitive to vasopressin, alpha-adrenergic agents and A23187. The similar time course in Ca2+ efflux may be indicative of the involvement of Ca2+ in mediating this effect.

scholarly journals The effect of intracellular calcium ions on adrenaline-stimulated adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate concentrations in pigeon erythrocytes, studied by using the ionophore A23187

1976 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
A K Campbell ◽  
K Siddle
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Adenylate Cyclase ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Atp Content ◽  
Bivalent Cation ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Maximum Inhibition ◽  
Partial Reversal ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. The bivalent cation ionophore A23187 was used to increase the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ in pigeon erythrocytes to investigate whether the increase in cyclic AMP content caused by adrenaline might be influenced by a change in intracellular Ca2+ in intact cells. 2. Incubation of cells with adrenaline, in the concentration range 0.55--55 muM, resulted in an increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP over a period of 60 min. The effect of adrenaline was inhibited by more than 90% with ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM) in the presence of 1 mM-Ca2+. This inhibition could be decreased by decreasing either the concentration of the ionophore or the concentration of extracellular Ca2+, and was independent of the concentration of adrenaline. 3. The effect of ionophore A23187 depended on the time of incubation. Time-course studies showed that maximum inhibition by ionophore A23187 was only observed when the cells were incubated with the ionophore for at least 15 min before the addition of adrenaline. 4. The inhibition by ionophore A23187 depended on the concentration of extracellular Ca2+. In the absence of Mg2+, ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM) inhibited the effect of adrenaline by approx. 30% without added Ca2+, by approx. 66% with 10 muM-Ca2+ and by more than 90% with concentrations of added Ca2+ greater than 30 muM. However, even in the presence of EGTA [ethanedioxybis(ethylamine)tetra-acetate](0.1--10 mM), ionophore A23187 caused an inhibition of the cyclic AMP response of at least 30%, which may have been due to a decrease in cell Mg2+ concentration. 5. The addition of EGTA after incubation of cells with ionophore A23187 resulted in a partial reversal of the inhibition of the effect of adrenaline. 6. Inclusion of Mg2+ (2 mM) in the incubation medium antagonized the inhibitory action of ionophore A23187. This effect was most marked when the ionophore A23187 was added to medium containing Mg2+ before the addition of the cells. 7. The cellular content of Mg2+ was decreased by approx. 50% after 20 min incubation with ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM) in the presence of Ca2+ (1 mM) but no Mg2+. When Mg2+ (2 mM) was also present in the medium, ionophore A23187 caused an increase of approx. 80% in cell Mg2+ content. Ionophore A23187 had no significant effect on cell K+ content. 8. Ionophore A23187 caused a decrease in cell ATP content under some conditions. Since effects on cyclic AMP content could also be shown when ATP was not significanlty lowered, it appeared that a decrease in ATP in the cells could not explain the effect of ionophore A23187 on cyclic AMP. 9. Ionophore A23187 (1.9 muM), with 1 mM-Ca2+, did not enhance cyclic AMP degradation in intact cells, suggesting that the effect of ionophore A23187 on cyclic AMP content was mediated through an inhibition of adenylate cyclase rather than a stimulation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. 10. It was concluded that in intact pigeon erythrocytes adenylate cyclase may be inhibited by intracellular concentrations of Ca2+ in the range 1-10 muM.

Calcium-dependent hydrolyses of polyphosphoinositides in human erythrocyte membranes

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 363-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Blaine Moore ◽  
Stanley H. Appel
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Erythrocyte Membranes ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Erythrocyte Ghosts ◽  
Calcium Activation ◽  
Activation Curve ◽  
Intact Cells ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Human Erythrocyte Membranes ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 4

Incubation of erythrocytes with [32P]phosphate resulted in a linear incorporation of the label into PtdIns(4,5)P2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate), PtdIns4P (phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate), and PA (phosphatidic acid) over a period of 2 h at 37 °C. Exposure of 32P-labelled erythrocyte ghosts to calcium caused a loss of label from PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns4P, but not PA. The concentration of calcium required for half-maximal hydrolyses of both polyphosphoinositides was about 1 μM. Strontium, at higher concentrations, stimulated the hydrolyses of both polyphosphoinositides but barium, up to 1 mM, had little effect. Intact erythrocytes incubated in the presence of Ca–EGTA buffers and the ionophore A23187 did not show marked losses of [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2 or [32P]PtdIns4P, but rather exhibited a dramatic increase in the level of [32P]PA. In contrast, cells which had been depleted of their ATP lost significant amounts of [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2 and [32P]PtdIns4P and had less change in their levels of [32P]PA relative to intact cells. The calcium activation curve and the time course for [32P]PA synthesis in intact cells were similar to the calcium activation curve and the time course for the hydrolyses of [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2 and [32P]PtdIns4P in ATP-depleted erythrocytes. These results strongly support a link between Ca2+-dependent polyphosphoinositide breakdown and PA synthesis in human erythrocytes.

A Simple Method for Estimation of Lipoxygenase and Cyclo-Oxygenase Pathways in Human Platelets - the Use of Thiobarbituric Acid Reaction

1980 ◽  
Vol 44 (02) ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Takayama ◽  
Minoru Okuma ◽  
Haruto Uchino
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Normal Values ◽  
Human Platelet ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Acid Reaction ◽  
Optimal Ph

SummaryTo develop a simple method for estimation of platelet lipoxygenase (PLO) and cyclo-oxygenase (PCO) pathways, the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism of human platelet was investigated under various experimental conditions by the use of the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction and a radioisotope technique. A TBA-reactive substance different from malondialdehyde (MDA) via PCO pathway was detected and shown to be derived from the PLO pathway. Since the optimal pH and time course of its formation were different from those of MDA formation via PCO pathway, PLO and PCO pathways were estimated by quantitating the TBA-reactive substances produced by the incubation of AA either with aspirin-treated platelets or with untreated ones, respectively, each under optimal conditions. Normal values expressed in terms of nmol MDA/108 platelets were 1.17±0.34 (M±SD, n = 31) and 0.79±0.15 (n = 31) for PLO and PCO pathways, respectively.

scholarly journals Calcium metabolism in rat hepatocytes

1978 ◽  
Vol 170 (3) ◽  
pp. 615-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Foden ◽  
P J Randle
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Total Calcium ◽  
Free Medium ◽  
Adrenergic Agonists ◽  
Calcium Efflux ◽  
Similar Time ◽  
Carbonyl Cyanide

1. The total calcium concentration in rat hepatocytes was 7.9 microgram-atoms/g dry wt.; 77% of this was mitochondrial. Approx. 20% of cell calcium exchanged with 45Ca within 2 min. Thereafter incorporation proceeded at a low rate to reach 28% of total calcium after 60 min. Incorporation into mitochondria showed a similar time course and accounted for 20% of mitochondrial total calcium after 60 min. 2. The alpha-adrenergic agonists phenylephrine and adrenaline + propranolol stimulated incorporation of 45Ca into hepatocytes. Phenylephrine was shown to increase total calcium in hepatocytes. Phenylephrine inhibited efflux fo 45Ca from hepatocytes perifused with calcium-free medium. 3. Glucagon, dibutryl cyclic AMP and beta-adrenergic agonists adrenaline and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine stimulated calcium efflux from hepatocytes perifused with calcium-free medium. The effect of glucagon was blocked by insulin. Insulin itself had no effect on calcium efflux and it did not affect the response to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. 4. Incorporation of 45Ca into mitochondria in hepatocytes was stimulated by phenylephrine and inhibited by glucagon and by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. The effect of glucagon was blocked by insulin. 5. Ionophore A23187 stimulated hepatocyte uptake of 45Ca, uptake of 45Ca into mitochondria in hepatocytes and efflux of 45Ca into a calcium-free medium.

scholarly journals Presence and Characterization of Cell-Free Seminal RNA in Healthy Individuals: Implications for Noninvasive Disease Diagnosis and Gene Expression Studies of the Male Reproductive System

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (11) ◽  
pp. 1967-1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiyun Huang ◽  
Honggang Li ◽  
Xiaofang Ding ◽  
Chengliang Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive System ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Male Reproductive System ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Microcapillary Electrophoresis ◽  
Expression Studies ◽  
Noninvasive Biomarker ◽  
Gene Expression Studies ◽  
Triton X

Abstract Background: We recently detected cell-free seminal RNA (cfsRNA) and set out to study its concentration, integrity, stability in healthy individuals, and mechanisms for its protection from ribonucleases. Methods: We quantified cfsRNA by reverse-transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) targeting of the 5′ region of the ACTB (actin, beta) transcript. cfsRNA integrity was analyzed by microcapillary electrophoresis and by amplification of full-length ACTB and DDX4 [DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 4] transcripts, including measurement of the relative amounts of different regions of ACTB and DDX4 transcripts. Stability of cfsRNA was measured by time-course analysis of different regions of ACTB and DDX4 transcripts. To investigate whether cfsRNA was protected in complexed forms, we processed seminal plasma in 2 ways: filtration through pores of different sizes and Triton X-100 treatment before RNA recovery. Results: cfsRNA concentrations varied from 0.87–3.64 mg/L [mean (SD), 1.75 mg/L (0.92 mg/L)]. Most cfsRNA was present in partially degraded forms, with smaller amounts of middle and 3′ amplicons compared with 5′ amplicons. Although the 3′ region of the DDX4 transcript was degraded completely by 90 min, the 5′ regions of ACTB and DDX4 transcripts were stable up to 24 h. Filtration through 0.22-μm pores reduced ACTB and DDX4 mRNA concentrations by 72% and 61%, respectively. Nearly all seminal ACTB and DDX4 mRNA disappeared after Triton X-100 treatment. Conclusions: Although cfsRNA was partially degraded, it represented diverse transcript species and was abundant, fairly stable, and associated with particles in healthy individuals. cfsRNA may represent a potential noninvasive biomarker of the male reproductive system and of germline epigenetics.

scholarly journals Role of Mammalian Auditory Cortex in the Perception of Elementary Sound Properties

2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 2350-2358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjiv K. Talwar ◽  
Pawel G. Musial ◽  
George L. Gerstein
Keyword(s):  
Auditory Cortex ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Auditory Evoked Potentials ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Sound Intensity ◽  
Primary Auditory Cortex ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Auditory Task ◽  
Experimental Conditions

Studies in several mammalian species have demonstrated that bilateral ablations of the auditory cortex have little effect on simple sound intensity and frequency-based behaviors. In the rat, for example, early experiments have shown that auditory ablations result in virtually no effect on the rat's ability to either detect tones or discriminate frequencies. Such lesion experiments, however, typically examine an animal's performance some time after recovery from ablation surgery. As such, they demonstrate that the cortex is not essential for simple auditory behaviors in the long run. Our study further explores the role of cortex in basic auditory perception by examining whether the cortex is normally involved in these behaviors. In these experiments we reversibly inactivated the rat primary auditory cortex (AI) using the GABA agonist muscimol, while the animals performed a simple auditory task. At the same time we monitored the rat's auditory activity by recording auditory evoked potentials (AEP) from the cortical surface. In contrast to lesion studies, the rapid time course of these experimental conditions preclude reorganization of the auditory system that might otherwise compensate for the loss of cortical processing. Soon after bilateral muscimol application to their AI region, our rats exhibited an acute and profound inability to detect tones. After a few hours this state was followed by a gradual recovery of normal hearing, first of tone detection and, much later, of the ability to discriminate frequencies. Surface muscimol application, at the same time, drastically altered the normal rat AEP. Some of the normal AEP components vanished nearly instantaneously to unveil an underlying waveform, whose size was related to the severity of accompanying behavioral deficits. These results strongly suggest that the cortex is directly involved in basic acoustic processing. Along with observations from accompanying multiunit experiments that related the AEP to AI neuronal activity, our results suggest that a critical amount of activity in the auditory cortex is necessary for normal hearing. It is likely that the involvement of the cortex in simple auditory perceptions has hitherto not been clearly understood because of underlying recovery processes that, in the long-term, safeguard fundamental auditory abilities after cortical injury.

scholarly journals Characterization of a spleen sulphotransferase responsible for the 6-O-sulphation of the galactose residue in sialyl-N-acetyl-lactosamine sequences

1998 ◽  
Vol 331 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. SPIRO ◽  
Vishnu D. BHOYROO
Keyword(s):  
Periodate Oxidation ◽  
Maximal Activity ◽  
Sialic Acid Residue ◽  
Lymphoid Tissues ◽  
Ph Optimum ◽  
Bivalent Cation ◽  
Selectin Ligands ◽  
Strict Requirement ◽  
Lectin Chromatography ◽  
Triton X

An enzyme which catalyses the transfer of sulphate from 3´-phosphoadenosine 5´-phosphosulphate (PAPS) to C-6 of galactose in the NeuAcα2-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc (3´SLN) sequence has been found in rat spleen microsomes and its specificity indicates that it is well suited to participate in the assembly of 3´-sialyl-6´-sulpho-LacNAc [NeuAcα2-3Gal(6-SO4)β1-4GlcNAc] and 3´-sialyl-6´-sulpho-LewisX [NeuAcα2-3Gal(6-SO4)β1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc] saccharide groups which have been implicated as selectin ligands. This sulphotransferase has a strict requirement for oligosaccharide acceptors which are capped by an α2-3-linked sialic acid residue, although GlcNAc in 3´SLN can be substituted by Glc, and Galβ1-4GlcNAc can be replaced by Galβ1-3GlcNAc without loss of activity. The finding that 3´-sialyl LewisX was inert as an acceptor suggested that fucosylation, in contrast with sialylation, follows the addition of the sulphate group. Since fetuin glycopeptides containing the NeuAcα2-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc sequence had a similar affinity for the enzyme as the unattached 3´SLN, it would appear that the acceptor determinants reside primarily in the peripheral trisaccharide constellation. The position of the sulphate on C-6 of galactose was elucidated by Smith periodate oxidation, hydrazine/nitrous acid/NaBH4 treatment and elder (Sambucus nigra)bark lectin chromatography of the desialylated [35S]sulphate-labelled products of the enzyme. Assays carried out with 3´SLN as acceptor indicated that the sulphotransferase had a pH optimum between 6.5 and 7.0 and a dependence on a bivalent cation best met by Mn2+ (12–25 mM); Triton X-100 (0.02 to 0.35%) brought about maximal stimulation. Tentative Km values determined for this enzyme were 4.7 µM for PAPS, and 0.72 mM and 1.16 mM for 3´SLN and fetuin glycopeptides respectively. A survey of several rat organs indicated that the PAPS:3´SLN-6-O-sulphotransferase is selectively distributed with maximal activity occurring in spleen which was substantially greater than thymus or lymph nodes. In contrast, other enzymes (i.e. PAPS:Gal-3-O-and GlcNAc-6-O-sulphotransferases) involved in the sulphation of sialyl-lactosamine and lactosamine sequences, which in the sulphated form are believed to also be selectin ligands, were more evenly distributed in lymphoid tissues. Relatively high activities for all three enzymes were found in brain.

scholarly journals Polyphosphoinositide breakdown and subsequent exocytosis in the Ca2+/ionophore-induced acrosome reaction of mammalian spermatozoa

1989 ◽  
Vol 259 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
E R S Roldan ◽  
R A P Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Acrosome Reaction ◽  
Fertilization In Vitro ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Bivalent Cation ◽  
Phosphoinositide Breakdown ◽  
Phosphoinositide Cycle ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 4 ◽  
Sperm Acrosome Reaction ◽  
Sperm Acrosome

An investigation was made of the modifications in phospholipids that occur during the exocytotic event known as the ‘sperm acrosome reaction’. Phospholipids were prelabelled with 32P, and exocytosis was induced with Ca2+ and the ionophore A23187. When incubated with [32P]Pi in various media suitable for supporting sperm survival or fertilization in vitro, spermatozoa from all five species examined (ram, boar, guinea pig, mouse and human) incorporated 32P rapidly into the components of the phosphoinositide cycle. There were differences both between species and between media with respect to the actual rate of incorporation of label, and also between species with respect to other phospholipids labelled. Treatment of spermatozoa with Ca2+ and A23187 to induce the acrosome reaction resulted in a rapid breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, which was complete within 3 min; there was also a great increase in labelling of phosphatidate. Occurrence of acrosome reactions in the sperm population was only observed after 5-10 min and reached a maximum response of greater than 90% after more than 30 min. The phosphoinositide breakdown was related to subsequent exocytosis: after EGTA/ionophore treatment, neither inositide breakdown nor exocytosis took place; however, later addition of Ca2+ resulted in immediate inositide breakdown, and exocytosis followed, with a delay relative to Ca2+ addition exactly similar to that following standard Ca2+/ionophore treatment. Neomycin inhibited both inositide breakdown and subsequent exocytosis provided it was added together with Ca2+ and ionophore; however, if the drug was added 3 min after Ca2+ and ionophore (by which time inositide breakdown was already complete), exocytosis was not inhibited. Ca2+ seemed to have several consecutive roles in the acrosome reaction. Low (micromolar) levels of free Ca2+ were needed both for phosphoinositide breakdown and for an event downstream of this breakdown; no other bivalent cation could substitute for Ca2+ in either event, and inositide breakdown was actually inhibited by Mg2+. In addition, millimolar levels of Ca2+ were needed for later stages of exocytosis, although this requirement could be satisfied by Sr2+. We conclude that breakdown of polyphosphoinositides is an essential early process after Ca2+ entry in the chain of events that lead to exocytosis in the mammalian sperm acrosome reaction.

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