title: Defective protein kinase A and C pathways are common causes of disordered zona pellucida (ZP)--induced acrosome reaction in normozoospermic infertile men with normal sperm-ZP binding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine association between defective protein kinases C (PKC) and A (PKA) and disordered zona pellucida (ZP)-induced acrosome reaction (DZPIAR) in normozoospermic infertile men with normal sperm-ZP binding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm from DZPIAR infertile men were treated without (control) or with (test) phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, PKC activator) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP, PKA activator) under in vitro standard culture condition. The ZP-induced AR was assessed and compared between control and test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public and private hospital-based clinical assisted reproduction technology (ART) centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 51 DZPIAR infertile men were involved in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm-ZP binding and the ZP-induced IAR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both PMA and dbcAMP enhanced ZP-induced AR up to a normal level (≥25%) in some subjects with DZPIAR: 29 (57%) with PMA and 27 (53%) with dbcAMP. Overall 35 (69%) had the ZP-induced AR enhanced to normal by PMA or dbcAMP but 16 (31%) had little or no response to either agent. Fourteen men responded to the two activators differently: 8 effective only with PMA and 6 effective only with dbcAMP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Defective upstream of PKC and PKA pathways are highly associated with disordered ZPIAR in normozoospermic infertile men with normal sperm-ZP binding.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne IVF, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: deyi.liu@mivf.com.au.
authors.forename: De-Yi
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Melbourne IVF, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ming-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Melbourne IVF, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: H W Gordon
authors.initials: HWG
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003994:Bucladesine; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate