Comparative flow cytometric analysis of the human sperm acrosome reaction using CD46 antibody and lectins.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine the most suitable marker for the human sperm acrosome reaction, based on detection of CD46 antibody binding compared with lectin binding.


METHODS
Flow cytometric analysis of CD46 antibody versus lectins (PNA, PSA, and Con A) was used to quantify the acrosome reaction of human sperm.


RESULTS
Neither PSA nor Con A was able to detect significant changes in the spontaneous and ionophore-induced acrosome reactions compared to CD46 antibody. However, PNA was found to exhibit a binding pattern similar to that observed with CD46 and could be used to quantify measurable changes in acrosomal response to ionophore, albeit of a lower magnitude than the responses detected by CD46.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that PNA binds to the inner acrosomal membrane of acrosome-reacted sperm and is suitable for use as a marker of the acrosome reaction by flow cytometry. Data are presented which clarify the assessment of the acrosome reaction when CD46 and lectins are used.
Carver-Ward
J A
JA
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Moran-Verbeek
I M
IM
Hollanders
J M
JM
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D010367:Arachis; D001710:Biotin; D002470:Cell Survival; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018532:Pisum sativum; D037121:Plant Lectins; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C497857:CD46 protein, human; D037102:Lectins; D051916:Membrane Cofactor Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D003208:Concanavalin A; D001710:Biotin