Chondroitin sulfate facilitates an acrosome reaction in bovine spermatozoa as evidenced by light microscopy, electron microscopy and in vitro fertilization.
Bovine epididymal spermatozoa were incubated for 22 h in a modified Tyrode's medium. The percentages of sperm exhibiting an acrosome reaction were determined morphologically after fixing and staining specimens. The addition of chondroitin sulfate A (CS-A) significantly increased the incidence of acrosome reaction. When observed by electron microscopy, acrosome-reacted sperm had undergone vesiculation of the plasma and outer acrosomal membranes. Sperm incubated in the presence of CS-A demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of vesiculation when compared to the controls. Additionally, rates of in vitro fertilization of bovine oocytes were significantly elevated when sperm and ova were exposed to CS-A. These results suggest that glycosaminoglycans in the female reproductive tract may be responsible for some of the biochemical changes associated with fertilization, and a light microscope procedure can be used to assess occurrence of the acrosome reaction.
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D002807:Chondroitin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates