Hyperactivation of capacitated human sperm correlates with the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction of zona pellucida-bound sperm.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between human sperm hyperactivation (HA), sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction (AR) of ZP-bound sperm in vitro.


METHODS
Sperm samples from 129 infertile men were studied. Motile sperm (2 x 10(6)) selected by Pure sperm were incubated with four oocytes in 1 ml human tubal fluid supplemented with 10% human serum. After 2-h incubation, the number of sperm bound to the ZP and the AR of ZP-bound sperm were examined. Velocities and HA of sperm in insemination medium were assessed by Hamilton-Thorn Sperm Analyzer.


RESULTS
The HA was highly correlated with the ZP-induced AR in all the subjects (rho = 0.626, P < 0.001). In the 69 men with < or = 100 sperm bound/ZP, allowing accurate counts, HA was not significantly correlated with sperm-ZP binding. Men with <7% HA sperm were more likely to have very low ZP-induced AR. Only normal sperm morphology was significantly correlated with sperm-ZP binding (rho = 0.346 and 0.446 in semen and insemination medium, respectively, both P < 0.001). Sperm motility and velocities were significantly correlated with sperm morphology but not with either sperm-ZP binding or the ZP-induced AR.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlation of HA with the ZP-induced AR of ZP-bound sperm suggests a mechanistic link between HA and the physiological AR in humans. Assessment of HA of capacitated sperm in vitro may be a useful clinical test for male infertility associated with defective ZP-induced AR that does not require the use of human oocytes.
Liu
D Y
DY
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Carlton 3053, Australia. dyl@unimelb.edu.au
Liu
M L
ML
Clarke
G N
GN
Baker
H W G
HW
D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*