Changes in calcium transport in mammalian sperm mitochondria and plasma membranes caused by 780 nm irradiation

✍ Scribed by Lubart, Rachel; Friedmann, Harry; Sinyakov, Michael; Cohen, Natalie; Breitbart, Haim

• Book ID: 101217719
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 123 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)21:5<493::aid-lsm12>3.0.co;2-a

✦ Synopsis

Background and Objective: Regulation of intracellular Ca 2+ concentrations are very important in control of sperm motility and acrosome reaction. It was shown previously that low-power lasers in the visible and near-infrared range alter Ca 2+ uptake by sperm cells. In the present work the effect of a 780 nm diode laser on Ca 2+ uptake by sperm mitochondria and isolated plasma membrane vesicles is investigated. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Digitonin-treated spermatozoa and plasma membrane vesicles were irradiated with a 780-nm diode laser at various powers and energy doses, and Ca 2+ uptake was measured by the filtration method. Results: It was found that 780-nm irradiation inhibits Ca 2+ uptake by the mitochondria but stimulates Ca 2+ binding by sperm plasma membrane vesicles. The effect of light on Ca 2+ uptake by plasma membrane vesicles in the absence of ATP was much larger than that measured in the presence of ATP. Addition of Ca 2+ ionophore decreased the Ca 2+ uptake by the irradiated membranes in the presence of ATP but enhanced it significantly in the absence of ATP. Conclusion: 780 nm light inhibits Ca 2+ uptake by sperm mitochondria and enhances Ca 2+ binding to sperm plasma membranes. Lasers Surg. Med. 21:493-499, 1997.