OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to study the influence of solubilized human zonae pellucidae on zona binding potential and acrosome reaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zona pellucida (ZP) solutions were prepared by dissolving zona in acidic buffer, NaH2PO4 (pH 2.5), to obtain 0.1 and 0.5 zona pellucida/microliters. Zona binding capacity was evaluated by the addition of oocytes (10-fold) to sperm/zona pellucida solution droplets. The number of sperm bound to each oocyte was recorded. Zona pellucida-mediated acrosome activity was evaluated after 60 min of coincubation of sperm and 0.5 ZP/microliters. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SE) number of sperm bound for control, 0.1 ZP/microliter, and 0.5 ZP/microliter was 181.2 +/- 12, 79.6 +/- 5, and 38.8 +/- 3, respectively. Zona pellucida-exposed sperm populations showed significant more acrosome-reacted sperm compared to control sperm, namely, 78 versus 32%, respectively (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The observed zona binding inhibition might be ascribed to zona receptor blocking on the sperm surface or the inability of acrosome-reacted sperm to bind to the zona pellucida.
OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to study the influence of solubilized human zonae pellucidae on zona binding potential and acrosome reaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zona pellucida (ZP) solutions were prepared by dissolving zona in acidic buffer, NaH2PO4 (pH 2.5), to obtain 0.1 and 0.5 zona pellucida/microliters. Zona binding capacity was evaluated by the addition of oocytes (10-fold) to sperm/zona pellucida solution droplets. The number of sperm bound to each oocyte was recorded. Zona pellucida-mediated acrosome activity was evaluated after 60 min of coincubation of sperm and 0.5 ZP/microliters. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SE) number of sperm bound for control, 0.1 ZP/microliter, and 0.5 ZP/microliter was 181.2 +/- 12, 79.6 +/- 5, and 38.8 +/- 3, respectively. Zona pellucida-exposed sperm populations showed significant more acrosome-reacted sperm compared to control sperm, namely, 78 versus 32%, respectively (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The observed zona binding inhibition might be ascribed to zona receptor blocking on the sperm surface or the inability of acrosome-reacted sperm to bind to the zona pellucida.
Authors: D R Franken; W T Oosthuizen; S Cooper; T F Kruger; L J Burkman; C C Coddington; G D Hodgen Journal: Andrologia Date: 1991 May-Jun Impact factor: 2.775