FIGURE 8.

Effect of FN, VN, and anti-αv antibodies on mouse OVS-sperm in vitro fusion (via co-incubation assays), as assessed by SR-SIM. Fusion rate or mean (±S.E.) numbers of OVS (microvesicles) that were fused with capacitated (CAP, A) or acrosome-reacted (AR; B, C) sperm were calculated following co-incubation of pre-FM4–64FX-labeled OVS and sperm in HTF medium supplemented with B, 10 μg/ml FN or 600 nm VN, respectively, and C, 50 μg/ml of anti-αv antibodies for 3 h at 37 °C in the dark. Isotype IgG and anti-αv antibodies were added during the co-incubation (Co-Inc) for control and test, respectively, while either OVS or sperm were pre-incubated (Pre-Inc) with the antibody prior to coincubation. Data presented as the mean (±S.E.) of OVS per sperm in each group, consisting of 33 cells in A and B and in C at least 10 of the 12 cells imaged. *, values are significantly different from control with 0 μg/ml FN (p < 0.001) or 0 nm VN (p < 0.001), or Isotype IgG (p < 0.0001).