Faculty Collaboration Database

C-kit receptor and its possible function in human spermatozoa. Mol Reprod Dev 2005 Jan;70(1):103-10

Date

10/30/2004

Pubmed ID

15515059

DOI

10.1002/mrd.20186

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-10044265586 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

The presence and role of the c-kit proto-oncogene protein was investigated in the mature sperm of the human. A polyclonal antibody against the c-kit peptide was used to perform immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, electron microscopy (EM) studies, and Western blot analysis. The acrosomal region of fresh sperm specifically stained with the antibody. No acrosomal staining or staining limited to the equatorial region was noted in the acrosome-reacted (AR) sperm. EM studies demonstrated immunogold label on the plasma membrane (PM) of the acrosome, and confirmed the lack of binding following the acrosome reaction. A 150 kDa band was detected by Western blot analysis. This protein was released from the sperm surface during sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction. Antibody against the c-kit receptor significantly inhibited the acrosome reaction and increased sperm agglutination, but did not significantly inhibit sperm motility. These results suggest that the c-kit receptor protein is present in mature human sperm and is released during capacitation and/or the acrosome reaction. The assessment of the c-kit receptor may also be a useful assay for sperm function in male infertility.

Author List

Feng HL, Sandlow JI, Zheng LJ

Author

Jay I. Sandlow MD Chair, Professor in the Urology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acrosome
Acrosome Reaction
Antibodies
Cell Membrane
Humans
Male
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
Sperm Agglutination
Sperm Capacitation
Sperm Motility
Spermatozoa