Stimulation of human sperm capacitation by purified lipid transfer protein

✍ Scribed by Ravnik, Stuart E. ;Albers, John J. ;Muller, Charles H.

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 600 KB
• Volume: 272
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1402720110

✦ Synopsis

Lipid Transfer Protein I is recognized as a key component involved in high density lipoprotein metabolism. We have been studying lipid transfer in relation to sperm capacitation, a complex series of cell surface events required for the acrosome reaction and fertilization. We have previously shown that Lipid Transfer Protein I is present and active in the female reproductive tract. In the present study, we show t h a t purified Lipid Transfer Protein I directly stimulates human sperm capacitation, but not the acrosome reaction, in the absence of other biological effectors. These results provide strong evidence for a novel role for Lipid Transfer Protein I and reveal, for the first time, a potent activator of capacitation, prior to the acrosome reaction. Q 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.