Monoclonal antibodies to intra-acrosomal proteins inhibit gamete binding in vitro

Theriogenology. 2001 Jul 15;56(2):211-23. doi: 10.1016/s0093-691x(01)00557-x.

Abstract

The sperm-zona pellucida-binding assay in vitro was used as a functional test for zona pellucida-binding ability of boar spermatozoa after co-incubation with monoclonal antibodies against intra-acrosomal proteins. The effect of monoclonal antibodies ACR.2 against boar acrosin (55, 53, 45 and 38 kDa), and Hs-8 against boar intra-acrosomal protein (230, 110, 88, 60, 48 kDa) on boar spermatozoa-porcine oocyte binding was examined. The sperm-zona pellucida-binding was reduced when medium was supplemented with monoclonal antibodies during sperm-oocyte co-incubation, but not when capacitated spermatozoa were pretreated with monoclonal antibodies before incubation with oocytes. Our results show that the monoclonal antibodies (ACR.2, Hs-8) against intra-acrosomal proteins reduce the secondary sperm-zona pellucida-binding with statistically significant difference. This suggests the role of these proteins in the early phases of fertilization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrosin / immunology
  • Acrosome / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Female
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / immunology*
  • Swine

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Acrosin