Effects of antifertility drugs on epididymal protein secretion, acquisition of sperm surface proteins and fertility in male rats

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Abstract
The possibility that .alpha.-chlorohydrin, 6-chloro-6-deoxyglucose (6CDG) and cyproterone acetate (CPA) might affect epididymal protein secretion or acquisition of sperm surface proteins as the cause of their antifertility action in male rats was investigated. Daily administration of 9 mg/kg .alpha.-chlorohydrin for 7-14 days and 24 mg/kg 6CDG for 14-21 days induced sterility in male rats and impaired the capacity of the cauda epididymal spermatozoa to initiate motility. Treatment with CPA (30 mg/kg per day) for 21-28 days had no effect on fertility and initiation of sperm motility, although the epididymis of the treated animals underwent a loss in weight. The antifertility effects of .alpha.-chlorohydrin or 6CDG did not seem to be attributed to an interference with epididymal protein secretion. The cauda epididymal fluids of the .alpha.-chlorohydrin, 6CDG and CPA treated animals have similar protein patterns compared to those of the control animals. When the surface proteins of the spermatozoa were labeled with radioactive iodine, the sperm surface proteins of the .alpha.-chlorohydrin and 6CDG treated animals differed from those of the control animals. Two peaks (MW 32,000 and 70,000) and 1 peak (70,000) were significantly reduced in the .alpha.-chlorohydrin treated and 6CDG treated animals, respectively. Additional bands appeared on the surface of the treated (infertile) animals. CPA treatment did not affect the surface protein pattern of the epididymal spermatozoa. The antifertility affects of .alpha.-chlorohydrin and 6CDG are not due to an interference with epididymal secretion of specific proteins but to an intervention of the subsequent acquisition of these proteins by epididymal spermatozoa. This results in a decrease in the capacity of the epididymal sperm to initiate motility and hence a loss of fertilizing capacity.