Identification of a Cholinergic Receptor in Ram Spermatozoa

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Abstract
The presence of a cholinergic receptor in ram spermatozoa has been investigated. It has been shown by equilibrium dialysis that homogenates prepared from ram spermatozoa bind the acetylcholine agonist decamethonium. By this procedure, a high affinity binding site for decamethonium with a dissociation constant, Kd = 0.29 µM and maximum binding, Bmax = 17.7 nmol decamethonium bound/g protein has been identified. This binding is sensitive to carbamylcholine, hexamethonium and nicotine, but is not sensitive to atropine, eserine or the α-neurotoxin from Naja naja. The high affinity binding site appears to be primarily located in the flagellum. This nicotinic receptor appears to be different from the muscle end plate acetylcholine receptor as the [1 2 5I]α-neurotoxin prepared from Naja naja venom does not bind to homogenates of ram spermatozoa.

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