Figure 2From: Delineation of downstream signalling components during acrosome reaction mediated by heat solubilized human zona pellucidaSIZP mediated induction of acrosome reaction in capacitated human sperm in presence or absence of pharmacological inhibitors of L- and T-type VOCCs. Capacitated human sperm (1 × 106) pre-incubated for 10 min at 37°C in presence of 5% CO2, with L-type VOCC inhibitors (Nifedipine, Verapamil), T-type VOCC inhibitors (Pimozide, Mibefradil) or respective vehicle controls (Panels 2a and 2b respectively) were subsequently incubated with SIZP (~5 zonae). After 60 min incubation at 37°C in presence of 5% CO2, sperm samples were analyzed for their acrosomal status by TRITC-PSA staining as described in Methods. Y-axis represents percent induction of acrosomal exocytosis calculated by dividing the number of acrosome-reacted sperm by total number of sperm counted and multiplied by 100. Values are Mean ± SEM of six different experiments using semen samples from at least six different male donors. Calcium ionophore A23187 (10 μM) was used as a positive control in the experiment. Asterisk (*) represents p < 0.05 with respect to the solvent control and hash (#), p < 0.05 with respect to SIZP mediated induction of acrosome reaction.Back to article page