Effect of Seminal Vesicle Fluid Components on Acrosome Reaction of Mouse Epididymal Sperm.

Gye,  Myung Chan; Kim,  Sung Rye; Kim,  Moon Kyoo

Original Article

Korean Journal of Fertility and Sterility 1997;24(1):27-34.
Published online January 1, 2001.

Effect of Seminal Vesicle Fluid Components on Acrosome Reaction of Mouse Epididymal Sperm.

Myung Chan Gye, Sung Rye Kim, Moon Kyoo Kim

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of seminal vesicle fluid (SVF) on the acrosome reaction (AR) occurred spontaneously or induced by Ca2+ ionophore A23187, follicular fluid, and progesterone in mouse epididymal sperm. SVF was divided into high (MW>10 kM)) and low (MW<10 kD) fractions by ultrafiltration. The low MW fraction of SVF decreased the rate of spontaneous AR, however the high MW fraction did not. It suggested that the low MW fraction of SVF might have contained decapacitation factor(s) responsible for prolonging of time need for capacitation. When sperm preincubated for 60 min in the presence of SVF, the rate of AR induced by A23187 was decreased, but prolongation of preincubation time for 120 min significantly potentiated the AR by A23187. It suggested that addition of SVF into sperm preincubation medium imposed the epididymal sperm a condition similar to ejaculation. AR induced by human follicular fluid or progesterone was also inhibited by SVF. It suggested that substance in SVF might have affected AR of mouse sperm by inhibiting the interaction between AR inducing ligands and sperm surface receptors involved in acrosomal exocytosis.