Effects of products of activated immune cells and recombinant cytokines on spontaneous and ionophore-induced acrosome reaction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the products of activated immune cells influence spontaneous and ionophore-induced sperm acrosome reaction.


METHODS
The spontaneous and ionophore-induced acrosome reaction were evaluated by staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) Pisum sativam agglutinin after incubation in capacitating media supplemented with either supernatants from Con-A activated leukocyte cultures or human recombinant (r) IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and INF-gamma.


RESULTS
The supernatants from Con A-activated peripheral blood leukocyte cultures at 1:1 and 1:10 dilution significantly increased the rate of spontaneous acrosome reaction (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01). Along with displayed abnormally elevated levels of spontaneous acrosome loss, sperm cells showed an insufficient ability to undergo acrosome reaction in response to the ionophore treatment. Recombinant IL-1 beta at increasing concentrations from 30 to 3 x 10(4) U/ml did not have an effect on spontaneous and ionophore-induced acrosome reaction. In contrast, spermatozoa that underwent capacitation in media with 7 x 10(3), 7 x 10(4), and 7 x 10(5) U/ml of rINF-gamma showed a significant increase in spontaneous and induced acrosome reaction compared to the control (P < 0.001). Recombinant TNF-alpha at concentrations of 3.5 x 10(3) U/ml and 3.5 x 10(4) U/ml significantly inhibited ionophore-induced acrosome reaction (P < 0.001). Both rINF-gamma and rTNF-alpha together revealed an effect on the acrosome reaction similar to Con-A generated supernatants (1:1 and 1:10 dilution) only at the highest concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Some cases of infertility may result from a defective acrosome reaction (premature acrosome loss or insufficient acrosome response to the stimulants) caused by products of activated lymphocytes and macrophages that are released into the male and female reproductive tracts.
Dimitrov
D G
DG
Laboratory of Immunology, Institute for Mother and Child Care, Prague, Czech Republic.
Petrovská
M
M
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology
D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003208:Concanavalin A; D000001:Calcimycin; D007371:Interferon-gamma