[Effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on mouse sperm capacitation]

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the kinetics of mouse sperm capacitation was examined. The chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence assay was used to monitor capacitated sperm, featuring a B pattern. One hundred ng/ml EGF significantly stimulated capacitation at 15 minutes after the addition. However, 0.1 pg/ml EGF did not stimulate capacitation. EGF affected neither the motility nor the appearance of the S or AR pattern. The EGF-induced stimulation of capacitation was attenuated by 20 micrograms/ml genistein, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, or by 100 ng/ml thapsigargin, a non-phorbol tumor promoter, which inhibits EGF action by enhancing phosphorylation of the threonine 669 residue of the EGF-receptor. However, 3 ng/ml 12-O-tetradecanoly phorbol 13-acetate (TPA), a stimulator of protein kinase C, did not attenuate the appearance of the B pattern enhanced by 100 ng/ml EGF. These data suggest that EGF stimulates mouse sperm capacitation by activating the tyrosine kinase of the EGF-receptor which is regulated by multisite phosphorylation.