Abstract
The present study investigated the feasibility of using Xenopus oocytes to express sperm ion channel by injection of RNAs extracted from the rat testis. The RNA-injected oocytes expressed an outwardly rectifying current which was dependent on K + concentration and inhibitable by K + channel blockers, charybdotoxin (CTX) and tetraethylammonium (TEA). The Ca 2+ ionophore, ionomycin, could also stimulate current activation with similar current characteristics in the RNA-injected oocytes, suggesting the expression of a Ca 2+-activated K + channel. Immunolocalization indicated predominant Ca 2+-activated K + channel immunoreactivity associated with spermatogenic cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction studies confirmed the expression of the Ca 2+-activated K + channel mRNA in isolated spermatogenic cells. Our results suggest that ion channels and/or receptors of spermatogenic cells could be investigated using the Xenopus oocyte as an expression system. The present study also suggests that sperm may possess a Ca 2+-activated K + channel which has been implicated in the process of sperm activation and gamete interaction.
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