Progesterone induces the acrosome reaction in stallion spermatozoa via a protein tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway

摘要

Progesterone (P_4) is considered to be a physiological inducer of the acrosome reaction (AR) in stallion spermatozoa. However, the capacitation-dependent changes that enable P_4 to bind to the sperm plasma membrane and the nature of the P_4-triggered pathway that results in the AR are poorly understood. The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of protein kinases in P_4-mediated induction of the AR in stallion spermatozoa and to determine whether bicarbonate, an inducer of sperm capacitation, acts via the same pathway as P_4, or otherwise synergises the effects of P_4.