EFFECT OF NÍKEL CHLORIDE ON MOUSE SPERM CAPACITATION In Vitro

MONCLUS M., CABRILLANA M., SOLA A., VINCENTI A.Y FORNÉS M.

Uspallata

Congreso; XXIII Reunión Anual de la Soc. de Biol. de Cuyo. III Reunión de la Soc. Argentina de Microscopía; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Effect of Nickel Chloride on Mouse Sperm Capacitation in vitro Monclus MA, Cabrillana ME, Sola AJ, Vincenti AE and Fornés MW.  IHEM – CONICET, FCM-UNCuyo. E-mail: monclus@fcm.uncu.edu.ar  Capacitation is a process that sperm must undergo to acquire fertilization ability inside female genital tract. Protein tyrosine phosphorilation (p-Y) was stayed as a marker for sperm capacitation. This process in vitro depends on two main factors: culture media composition (presence of BSA and bicarbonate) and incubation time (90 minutes).  Cl2Ni - Ca+2 channels blocker - was added to the capacitation media to evaluate their possible influence on mouse sperm p-Y. Concentrations from 0 to 0,9 mM of Cl2Ni, either  in the presence or absence of BSA, bicarbonate and different incubation periods were tested. Motility and vitality were also check to avoid possible toxics effects on sperm. The optimal Cl2Ni concentration able to obtain proteins p-Y in mouse sperm in culture media lacking BSA and bicarbonate was 0,35 mM. On the other hand, in capacitating media, the presence of 0,35 mM of  Cl2Ni  leads to obtain  p-Y after 90 min (complete) or 30 min (incomplete) capacitation period. Under our working condition, motility and vitality were not affected. These preliminary results suggest that the blockage of Ca channels by Ni promotes protein p-Y in the absent of BSA or bicarbonate and in 30 min. The role of intracellular Ca during capacitation remains unclear.