The effect of alpha-amylase on the acrosomal membrane of human sperm.
OBJECTIVE
Sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction are prerequisites to accomplishing fertilization. The object of this research was to induce capacitation and the acrosome reaction of human sperm, comparing the acrosome status of fertile and infertile men, using alpha-amylase.


METHODS
Acrosome status was measured using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF; monoclonal antibody GB24, Thèramex), hemizona assay (HZA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).


RESULTS
Acrosome-reacted sperm without alpha-amylase treatment was significantly more abundant in the fertile versus the infertile group utilizing IIF, HZA, and TEM. alpha-Amylase-treated spermatozoa from the fertile and infertile groups showed a significant increase in the number of sperm bound to the hemizona (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm in the infertile group was significantly enhanced by alpha-amylase, utilizing IIF and TEM.
Esterhuizen
A D
AD
Garden City and Constantia Clinic Reproductive Biology Unit, Brixton, South Africa.
Lourens
J G
JG
Lindeque
H W
HW
Groenewald
C A
CA
Giesteira
M V
MV
Labuschagne
G P
GP
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005306:Fertilization; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000516:alpha-Amylases