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Intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration in fowl spermatozoa and its relationship to motility and respiration in spermatozoa

Summary. The ability of fowl spermatozoa to accumulate and de-esterify the intracellular fluorescent Ca²⁺ indicator fura-2 was established. The cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations, measured by this technique, did not change after the addition of 1 mmol EGTA l^–1. Subsequently, addition of the calcium ionophore A23187 [GenBank] caused a reduction in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentrations, presumably by efflux of Ca²⁺ from the spermatozoa. Intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentrations were then significantly increased by the addition of 1 mmol CaCl₂ l^–1. The motility of demembranated spermatozoa gradually decreased after the addition of EGTA alone or EGTA with A23187 [GenBank] , but was instantly restored by the addition of CaCl₂ in the presence of both EGTA and A23187. [GenBank] Unlike demembranated spermatozoa, intact spermatozoa maintained their motility, even after the addition of EGTA, but their motility was reduced by the addition of A23187 [GenBank] in the presence of EGTA. The addition of A23187 [GenBank] also reduced the rate of oxygen consumption, but not the ATP concentrations in intact spermatozoa. These results demonstrate that the motility and respiration of fowl spermatozoa are strongly influenced by their intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations.

Keywords: spermatozoa; calcium; fura-2; motility; oxygen uptake; fowl

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