Ion pump ATPase inhibitors block the fertilization of zona-free mouse oocytes by acrosome-reacted spermatozoa.

The acrosome reaction was induced in nearly 100% of mouse spermatozoa with dibutyryl cyclic guanosine monophosphate (dbcGMP) before ouabain treatment. Acrosome-reacted spermatozoa could not penetrate the zona pellucida, but readily fertilized zona-free eggs. Exposure to ouabain at concentrations as low as 10(-7) M had a noticeable inhibitory effect upon fertilization. Similar results were obtained with a second ATPase inhibitor, digoxin. These results show that ion-pump inhibitors block the union of gametes which are otherwise fully competent to fertilize. These findings suggest that a membrane potential maintained by ion pumps is a necessary prerequisite for gamete fusion.