Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-3-1
pubmed:abstractText
Urocortin (UCN), a newly isolated peptide, has been found to play an important role mainly in female reproductive system. In order to investigate the effect of UCN on T-type calcium currents (I(Ca,T)), exploring the mechanisms of UCN's role in male reproductive system, especially in acrosome reaction, we directly measured the I(Ca,T) in mouse spermatogenic cells exposed to UCN using standard whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique. Our results showed that UCN reversibly inhibited the T-type Ca(2+) currents in the cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The current density was inhibited by about 19% after exposure of the cells to UCN (0.1 microM) for 5 min, from the control value of 6.75+/-1.17 to 5.26+/-0.82pA/pF. UCN up-shifted the current-voltage (I-V) curve. Frequency-dependence of UCN's effects on I(Ca,T) was also observed. Moreover, UCN at 0.1 microM did not markedly affect the activation of I(Ca,T) but shifted the inactivation curve of I(Ca,T) to the left. The inhibitory effect of UCN on the T-type Ca(2+) current was not affected by Astressin, the CRF receptor blocker. Since T-type calcium channels are a key component in acrosome reaction, our data suggest that UCN might be a significant factor in male reproductive action and a potential contraceptive agent.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0006-291X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
8
pubmed:volume
329
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
743-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Effects of urocortin on T-type calcium currents in mouse spermatogenic cells.
pubmed:affiliation
Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, PR China.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't