title: A test of the human sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge. Relationship to fertility and other seminal parameters.
abstract: Acrosome reaction capacity was tested on semen samples from 53 fertile and 26 subfertile men. Preparations were divided into two aliquots after 3 or 24 hours of culture. One aliquot received 10 mumol/L calcium ionophore A23187 in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and the other received DMSO alone. Acrosome reactions were scored on ethanol-permeabilized smears using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated Pisum sativum lectin. The following factors were analyzed: the spontaneous reaction rates (control); induced reaction rates (ionophore-challenged); and the difference between the two, being the proportion of spermatozoa in the population capable of reacting in response to calcium influx (acrosome reaction to ionophore challenge [ARIC]). While spontaneous reactions bore no relation to fertility, induced reactions and ARICs were significantly reduced or absent in subfertile men, indicating acrosomal dysfunction as a likely cause of fertilization failure. The test was shown to have a predictive value for fertility comparable to that of the hamster ovum sperm penetration assay and to be a simple and cost-effective addition to existing semenology.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Reproductive Biology, PIVET Medical Centre, Leederville, Western Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pember
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jequier
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yovich
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000001:Calcimycin