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University of Wollongong

Series

2004

Calcium

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Analysis Of The Mechanism By Which Calcium Negatively Regulates The Tyrosine Phosphorylation Cascade Associated With Sperm Capacitation, Mark Baker, Louise Hethrington, Heath W. Ecroyd, Shaun D. Roman, Robert J. Aitken Jan 2004

Analysis Of The Mechanism By Which Calcium Negatively Regulates The Tyrosine Phosphorylation Cascade Associated With Sperm Capacitation, Mark Baker, Louise Hethrington, Heath W. Ecroyd, Shaun D. Roman, Robert J. Aitken

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The capacitation of mammalian spermatozoa involves the activation of a cAMP-mediated signal transduction pathway that drives tyrosine phosphorylation via mechanisms that are unique to this cell type. Controversy surrounds the impact of extracellular calcium on this process, with positive and negative effects being recorded in independent publications. We clearly demonstrate that the presence of calcium in the external medium decreases tyrosine phosphorylation in both human and mouse spermatozoa. Under these conditions, a rise in intracellular pH was recorded, however, this event was not responsible for the observed changes in phosphotyrosine expression. Rather, the impact of calcium on tyrosine phosphorylation in …


The Development Of Signal Transduction Pathways During Epididymal Maturation Is Calcium Dependent, Heath W. Ecroyd, Kelly Asquith, Russell C. Jones, Robert J. Aitken Jan 2004

The Development Of Signal Transduction Pathways During Epididymal Maturation Is Calcium Dependent, Heath W. Ecroyd, Kelly Asquith, Russell C. Jones, Robert J. Aitken

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Capacitation has been correlated with the activation of a cAMP-PKA-dependent signaling pathway leading to protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The ability to exhibit this response to cAMP matures during epididymal maturation in concert with the ability of the sperrnatozoa to capacitate. In this study, we have addressed the mechanisms by which spermatozoa gain the potential to activate this signaling pathway during epididymal maturation. In a modified Tyrode's medium containing 1.7 mM calcium, caput spermatozoa had significantly higher [Ca2+](i) than caudal cells and could not tyrosine phosphorylate in response to cAMP. However, in calcium-depleted medium both caput and caudal cells could exhibit a …