The regulation of acrosomal exocytosis. I. Sperm capacitation is required for the induction of acrosome reactions by the bovine zona pellucida in vitro.

The regulation of acrosomal exocytosis in capacitated bovine spermatozoa by soluble extracts of zonae pellucidae was examined. Kinetic studies demonstrated that zonae pellucidae stimulated synchronous acrosome reactions. The t1/2 of this process was 5-10 min and response was maximal at 20 min. The apparent initial rate of exocytosis in sperm populations was dependent upon the concentration of zona pellucida protein, with an ED50 and a maximally effective dosage of 20 and 50 ng protein/microliter, respectively. Zonae pellucidae caused up to a 48-fold increase in the apparent initial rate and a 3- to 4-fold stimulation in the net occurrence of exocytosis. In contrast, solubilized zonae pellucidae did not induce acrosome reactions in uncapacitated sperm. The development of a capacitated state, as assayed by the ability of sperm to fertilize eggs in vitro, was compared to the expression of zona pellucida-regulated acrosome reactions in a series of kinetic experiments. Both activities were manifest with similar kinetics and displayed identical dependencies toward stimulatory and inhibitory agents in vitro. It is concluded that capacitation is an essential prerequisite for the induction of acrosomal exocytosis in bovine sperm by the zona pellucida.