17α-Estradiol (αE2) is a natural diastereoisomer of 17β-estradiol (E2). It is well known that αE2 can bind to estrogen receptors. However, its biological activity is less than that of E2 and is species and tissue specific. The goal of our study was to propose the mechanism of αE2 hormonal response in rat sperm during their capacitation in vitro and compare it with a previously studied mouse model. Concentration changes in externally added αE2 during capacitation of rat sperm were monitored by the high-performance liquid chromatographic method with tandem mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-MS/MS). The calculated values of relative concentrations Bt were subjected to kinetic analysis. The findings indicated that αE2 in rat sperm did not trigger autocatalytic reaction, in contrast to the mouse sperm, and that the initiation of the hormone penetration through the sperm plasma membrane was substantially faster in rats.

Department of Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Science Charles University Albertov 2030 Prague 2 128 43 Prague Czech Republic

Department of Zoology Faculty of Science Charles University Vinicna 7 Prague 2 128 44 Prague Czech Republic

Laboratory of Reproductive Biology Institute of Biotechnology Czech Academy of Sciences BIOCEV Prumyslova 595 252 50 Vestec Czech Republic

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