The effects of prolactin on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of human prolactin (PRL) on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.


METHODS
Acrosome reactions were induced by the addition of follicular fluid (FF) and progesterone (P). Experiments were performed to determine time and dose-dependent effects of PRL on sperm capacitation, potentiation of the acrosome reaction, decapacitating effects, and potential for PRL to induce an acrosome reaction.


RESULTS
An average of 31.5% of spermatozoa underwent acrosome reaction with addition of FF and P. No time- or dose-dependent PRL effects on sperm capacitation or acrosome reaction were found (P greater than 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Prolactin does not play an important role in human sperm capacitation or acrosome reaction.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill.
D W
DW
Stovall
R B
RB
Shabanowitz
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D011388:Prolactin