Abstract
The acrosome reaction has been studied in vitro both by artificial induction using the ionophore A23187, which allows free access of calcium to trigger the reaction, and by observing incubated spermatozoa in which, under certain conditions, a high proportion displayed a spontaneous acrosome reaction. Temperature effects on the acrosome reaction were investigated by incubating spermatozoa in the presence or absence of ionophore at 35, 37, 39, 41 or 43 °C. Maximal numbers of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa were obtained at 39 °C and above after 30 min incubation with A23187, or after 3–8 h incubation in medium without ionophore (spontaneous acrosome reactions). Spermatozoa selected for high-motility characteristics by a swim-up method were found to be more readily induced to undergo an acrosome reaction with ionophore, but selection had no influence on the frequency of the spontaneous event. Variation was found between individual ejaculates in the readiness of the spermatozoa to undergo an acrosome reaction, but this couid not be attributed consistently to any particular ram. However, differences between ejaculates were eliminated by increasing the incubation temperature to 41 °C.
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