Association of glycerylphosphorylcholine with human sperm and effect of capacitation on their metabolism

The presence and localization of glycerylphosphorylcholine (GPC) on the surface of human sperm, as well as the metabolism of its breakdown product L-glycerol 3 phosphate (G3P), were investigated. GPC was found to be associated with sperm after penetrating cervical mucus and was present after repeated washing of the sperm. GPC was partially released by treatment with 0.4 M NaCl in 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and localized to the head region after sperm fractionation. G3P did not increase O2 uptake of uncapacitated human sperm. However, under aerobic conditions, lactate accumulated when exogenous G3P or uterine GPC diesterase was added to sperm in suspension. The uptake of O2 by washed capacitated sperm pre-incubated with 1 unit of rat uterine GPC diesterase for 30 min was significant. This effect was inhibited by 2 microM oligomycin indicating that oxidative phosphorylation had occurred. The present study indicates that GPC may play a role in the metabolism of human sperm after capacitation.