Acrosomal ATPase in starfish and bivalve mollusk spermatozoa

ATPase activity was found in acrosomes of starfish and bivalve mollusk spermatozoa, using a cytochemical method with electron microscopy. The activity was located in central material of the starfish acrosome and in material lining the acrosomal membrane of the Mytilus acrosome, as well as in the basal part of the starfish acrosome. The ATPase activity in the former material was preferably activated by Ca²⁺, while that in the starfish basal material was preferably activated by Mg²⁺. Both types of activity persisted during and after the acrosome reaction. ATPase activity was also observed in the region of the axial filament complex of the flagella, in centrioles and in a basal matrix. ATPase in the acrosome also hydrolysed other nucleoside triphosphates. However, there was no detectable phosphatase activity, and little pyrophosphatase or 5′-nucleotidase activity. Evidence was obtained that adenylate kinase may be included in the acrosome. A possible role of the ATPase activity in the acrosome reaction is discussed.