Abstract
Changes in the plasma membrane permeability of echinoderm sperm play a fundamental role in the acrosome reaction. During the reaction there is an increase in intracellular Ca 2+ and Na + and an efflux of H + and K +. We have formed bilayers at the tip of patch pipets from a mixture of lipid vesicles and sea urchin sperm plasma membranes (12–50 μg protein/ml). We observed three types of K + channels (conductances: 22, 46, and 82 pS), two of which are partially blocked by TEA, and one Cl − channel (148 pS). The presence of K + channels in sperm plasma membranes is consistent with the inhibition by TEA of the acrosome reaction in whole sperm and the membrane potential change that occurs during the reaction.
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