Normal range and variation of the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction in fertile men.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the normal range of the zona pellucida (ZP)-induced acrosome reaction (AR) in fertile men.


METHODS
A study of normative data.


METHODS
Academic research and teaching tertiary hospital.None.Fertile men (n = 111) who had children or whose female partner was currently pregnant. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE (S): Semen analysis, sperm-ZP binding, and the ZP-induced AR.


RESULTS
There was wide range for the ZP-induced AR: 20%-98% with a mean of 48%. The ZP-induced AR was significantly correlated with sperm concentration and normal morphology. The ZP-induced AR was significantly lower in men with sperm concentration <or=60 x 10(6)/mL than those with sperm concentration >60 x 10(6)/mL. Similarly, men with normal sperm morphology >or=15% had significantly higher ZP-induced AR than men with normal morphology <15%.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a wide range of the ZP-induced AR in fertile men that is correlated with sperm concentration and normal morphology.
Liu
De Yi
DY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria. dyl@unimelb.edu.au
Stewart
Tanya
T
Baker
H W Gordon
HW
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*