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. 1997 Feb;14(2):111–119. doi: 10.1007/BF02765780

Comparative flow cytometric analysis of the human sperm acrosome reaction using CD46 antibody and lectins

J A Carver-Ward 1,✉, I M Moran-Verbeek 3, J M G Hollanders 4
PMCID: PMC3454831  PMID: 9048242

Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the most suitable marker for the human sperm acrosome reaction, based on detection of CD46 antibody binding compared with lectin binding.

Methods: Flow cytometric analysis of CD46 antibody versus lectins (PNA, PSA, and Con A) was used to quantify the acrosome reaction of human sperm.

Results: Neither PSA nor Con A was able to detect significant changes in the spontaneous and ionophore-induced acrosome reactions compared to CD46 antibody. However, PNA was found to exhibit a binding pattern similar to that observed with CD46 and could be used to quantify measurable changes in acrosomal response to ionophore, albeit of a lower magnitude than the responses detected by CD46.

Conclusions: We conclude that PNA binds to the inner acrosomal membrane of acrosome-reacted sperm and is suitable for use as a marker of the acrosome reaction by flow cytometry. Data are presented which clarify the assessment of the acrosome reaction when CD46 and lectins are used.

Key words: lectins, CD46, flow cytometry, acrosome

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