Fast acrosome reaction measure: a highly sensitive method for evaluating stimulus-induced acrosome reaction.
OBJECTIVE
To test a new method for evaluation of stimulus-induced acrosome reaction (AR). To determine whether this method, based on the definition of a specific staining pattern of recently reacted spermatozoa, brings an advantage of increased sensitivity as compared with a standard procedure.


METHODS
The hypothesis that a specific staining pattern with fluorescein-labeled Pisum sativum agglutinin corresponds to recently acrosome-reacted spermatozoa was tested by analyzing the frequency of this pattern at different time points after addition of ionophore A23187, an artificial AR inducer. The AR results obtained with a new method based on this relationship were compared with those obtained with a standard method of AR evaluation.


METHODS
Private hospital, public research center, and a university-based research laboratory.


METHODS
Healthy sperm donors.


METHODS
Changes in the frequency of specific sperm-staining patterns.


RESULTS
A specific sperm-staining pattern with P. sativum agglutinin was shown to be associated with a recently occurred AR, whereas the absence of staining was typical of reactions having occurred a longer time ago. This phenomenon was used to define a formula for fast AR measure after stimulus addition. An increased sensitivity provided by this formula as compared with a standard evaluation was demonstrated.


CONCLUSIONS
Fast AR measure is a simple, easy-to-perform method for AR evaluation. It is particularly suitable for testing the effects of rapidly acting stimuli.
Tesarik
J
J
Center for Reproductive Biology and Medicine, American Hospital of Paris, Neuilly sur Seine, France.
Mendoza
C
C
Carreras
A
A
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D037121:Plant Lectins; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors
D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036292:pea lectin; D000001:Calcimycin