Evidence for the presence of ATP-dependent calcium pump and ATPase activities in bull sperm head membranes.

Biochemical studies were carried out to demonstrate for the first time direct evidence for the presence of ATP-dependent calcium uptake activity in plasma membrane isolated from the head of bull spermatozoa. The purified plasma membrane vesicles contain also Na+-K+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities. All the activities mentioned were followed in parallel in isolated plasma membranes from the sperm tail. These results together with others, suggest the involvement of the ATP-dependent calcium pump in regulation of intracellular calcium in the process of capacitation and acrosome reaction.