title: Artificial induction of the acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa.
abstract: This study investigated the use of human follicular fluid and pentoxifylline as inducers of the human sperm acrosome reaction in vitro. Motile sperm suspensions were prepared using a discontinuous Percoll gradient, preincubated for 3 h, divided into aliquots and exposed to various concentrations of non-heat-inactivated follicular fluid for 1 and 24 h and pentoxifylline for 30 min. Detection of the acrosome reaction involved the combined use of a fluorescent vital stain, H33258, and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut agglutinin (FITC-PNA). A short (1 h) exposure to follicular fluid at concentrations of 50% or more, did not compromise sperm motility and significantly increased the proportion of spermatozoa having completed the acrosome reaction. Similarly, a 30 min exposure to pentoxifylline also significantly increased the proportion of spermatozoa having completed the acrosome reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gearon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mortimer
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Forman
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects*; D010367:Arachis; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D019887:Peanut Agglutinin; D037121:Plant Lectins; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D010431:Pentoxifylline