Capacity of rete testicular and cauda epididymal boar spermatozoa to undergo the acrosome reaction and subsequent fusion with egg plasma membrane

The capacity to undergo the acrosome reaction and subsequent fusion with egg plasma membrane was examined in rete testicular and cauda epididymal spermatozoa from boars. Sperm penetration assay using zona‐free hamster eggs demonstrated that the penetration rates for rete testicular spermatozoa preincubated for induction of the acrosome reaction for 2 and 3 h were 55% and 97%, respectively. However, most of the eggs (93%) were penetrated with polyspermy by cauda epididymal cells preincubated for 2 h. Results obtained by the triple‐stain technique revealed the percentages of acrosome‐reacted spermatozoa in the rete testicular and cauda epididymal samples preincubated for 3 h to be 61% and 74%, respectively. These results indicate that many rete testicular spermatozoa possess the capacity to undergo the acrosome reaction and subsequent fusion with egg plasma membrane in vitro, which appears to be completely established only after sperm transit through at least the proximal part of the epididymis. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

[1]  R. Williams,et al.  Determination of the capacity of ram epididymal and ejaculated sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction and penetrate ova. , 1991, Biology of reproduction.

[2]  J. Nolan,et al.  Effect of dilauroylphosphatidylcholine liposomes on motility, induction of the acrosome reaction, and subsequent egg penetration of ram epididymal sperm. , 1991, Biology of reproduction.

[3]  A. Trounson,et al.  Fertilizing capacity of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa microinjected under the zona pellucida of the mouse oocyte , 1991, Molecular reproduction and development.

[4]  S. Kato,et al.  Induction of the acrosome reaction in goat spermatozoa in simple physiological salt solution. , 1989, The Journal of experimental zoology.

[5]  D F Katz,et al.  Factors regulating mammalian sperm migration through the female reproductive tract and oocyte vestments. , 1989, Gamete research.

[6]  M. Sakaue,et al.  Induction of the acrosome reaction in ejaculated goat spermatozoa by preincubation in chemically defined medium. , 1989, The Journal of experimental zoology.

[7]  K. Ahuja,et al.  Metabolic and surface events in fertilization. , 1988, Gamete research.

[8]  C. Carron,et al.  Epididymal maturation and the acrosome reaction in mouse sperm: response to zona pellucida develops coincident with modification of M42 antigen. , 1988, Biology of reproduction.

[9]  M. Sakaue,et al.  Induction of the acrosome reaction in ejaculated goat and boar spermatozoa by preincubation in isolatd rat uterus and elucidation of possible inducing factor(s). , 1988 .

[10]  M. Sakaue,et al.  Identification of acrosome-reacted boar spermatozoa by a triple-stain technique. , 1987 .

[11]  R. Peterson,et al.  Interaction of boar spermatozoa with porcine oocytes: Increase in proteins with high affinity for the zona pellucida during epididymal transit , 1986 .

[12]  R. Yanagimachi.  Zona‐free hamster eggs: Their use in assessing fertilizing capacity and examining chromosomes of human spermatozoa , 1984 .

[13]  Y. Combarnous,et al.  Head-to-head agglutination of ram and boar epididymal spermatozoa and evidence for an epididymal antagglutinin. , 1983, Journal of reproduction and fertility.

[14]  K. Hirao,et al.  Morphological changes in the boar spermatozoa at different regions of epididymis. , 1980 .

[15]  R. Hunter,et al.  Epididymal function in the boar in relation to the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. , 1976, Journal of reproduction and fertility.

[16]  D. Smidt,et al.  The fertilizing capacity of epididymal spermatozoa in the pig. , 1976, Journal of reproduction and fertility.