CHANGES IN CALCIUM-TRANSPORT IN MAMMALIAN SPERM MITOCHONDRIA AND PLASMA-MEMBRANE IRRADIATED AT 633 NM (HENE LASER)

The effect of light on calcium transport in mammalian sperm mitrochond ria and plasma membrane was studied. Digitonine-treated spermatozoa an d plasma membrane vesicles were irradiated with an HeNe laser at vario us powers and energy doses and Ca2+ uptake was measured by the filtrat ion method. It was found that there is an accelerated Ca2+ uptake by t he mitochondria after low power HeNe irradiation and inhibition after high power. The Bur of Ca2+ from the mitochondria was also examined an d was found to be unaffected by the HeNe light. The ATP-dependent Ca2 uptake by the bovine plasma membrane vesicles was not changed by the HeNe irradiation.