Maitotoxin, A Presumed Calcium Channel Activator, Induces the Acrosome Reaction in Mussel Spermatozoa |
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| Authors: | ICHIRO NISHIYAMA TAEI MATSUI TAKESHI YASUMOTO SHIGERU OSHIO MOTONORI HOSHI |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464;Laboratory of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Agriculture, Tõhoku University, Sendai 980;Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153;Biological Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Maitotoxin, a presumed activator of the voltage-sensitive calcium channel, induced the acrosome reaction in the mussel, Mytilus edulis at physiological pH and in the starfish, Asterias amurensis at pH 9.5. The induction of acrosome reaction by maitotoxin depended upon external Ca2+ and was inhibited by two types of calcium channel blockers; verapamil and diltiazem. These results suggest that the activation of the voltage-sensitive calcium channel takes an important part in the initiation of acrosome reaction in Mytilus and other animals. |
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