Hyaluronic acid and the cumulus extracellular matrix induce increases in intracellular calcium in macaque sperm via the plasma membrane protein PH-20.

The hyaluronic acid (HA)-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) of the cumulus oophorus is known to facilitate fertilization. It has been suggested that HA may enhance fertilisation in a number of species, and in macaque sperm, HA has been shown to increase the number of acrosome reactions that follow sperm binding to the zona pellucida. In this study, we investigated the effects of HA on intracellular Ca2+ in capacitated cynomolgus macaque sperm. Fluorometry studies using the intracellular Ca2+ indicator Fluo-3 showed that addition of 100 micrograms/ml of HA induced a rapid increase in intracellular Ca2+. This Ca2+ increase (approximately 2-3 times above basal levels) was inhibited by preincubation of sperm with Fab fragments of anti-recombinant PH-20 IgG. The frequency of acrosome reactions in sperm exposed to HA was not above control levels. A synthetic gel was prepared with similar viscosity to the cumulus and with HA trapped in its matrix. Video imaging of individual sperm was used to demonstrate that capacitated sperm swimming into the HA gel had increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. Preincubation of sperm with Fab fragments of anti-PH-20 IgG inhibited the increased intracellular Ca2+ levels induced by the HA gel. Sperm in control gel (no HA) did not show increased intracellular Ca2+, while sperm in gel containing anti-PH-20 IgG showed increased Ca2+ (positive control). Sperm loaded with Fluo-3 were allowed to interact with cynomolgus macaque cumulus masses, and sperm within the cumulus ECM clearly showed increased intracellular Ca2+ that was inhibited when sperm were preincubated in anti-PH-20 Fab. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-HA was found to bind to sperm over the acrosomal region, corresponding to PH-20 localisation, and this binding could be inhibited by preincubation of sperm with anti-PH-20 fragments. The results of this study show that HA increases intracellular Ca2+ in macaque sperm through interaction with plasma membrane PH-20. We propose that HA binding to plasma membrane PH-20 induces an aggregation of receptors that in turn results in intracellular signalling. As a result, sperm have higher basal CA2+ levels and are more responsive to induction of the acrosome reaction after binding to the zona pellucida.     

A role for the migrating sperm surface antigen PH-20 in guinea pig sperm binding to the egg zona pellucida

After the acrosome reaction, the PH-20 surface antigen of guinea pig sperm migrates from its original location on the posterior head surface to a new location on the inner acrosomal membrane (Myles, D.G., and P. Primakoff, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99:1634-1641). We have isolated three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of the IgG1 subclass, PH-20, PH-21, and PH-22, that bind to the PH-20 antigen. The PH-20 MAb strongly inhibited (approximately 90%) sperm binding to the guinea pig egg zona pellucida at saturating antibody concentrations (greater than 20 micrograms/ml). Half-maximal inhibition of sperm binding to the zona was obtained with approximately 2 micrograms/ml PH-20 MAb. The PH-21 MAb at saturating concentration (50 micrograms/ml) partially inhibited (approximately 45%) sperm-zona binding, and the PH-22 MAb (50 micrograms/ml) did not inhibit (0%) sperm-zona binding. Essentially the same amounts of the three MAbs were bound to sperm under the conditions where inhibition (PH-20, PH-21) or no inhibition (PH-22) of sperm-zona binding was observed, which indicates that the different levels of inhibition did not arise from different levels of MAb binding. Competition binding assays with 125I-labeled MAbs showed that PH-21 binding to sperm was not affected by the binding of PH-20 or PH-22. However, that PH-20 and PH-22 blocked each other's binding to sperm suggests that their recognized determinants may be relatively close to one another. The results indicate that the migrating PH-20 antigen has a required function in sperm binding to the zona pellucida and that the PH-20 MAb affects is active site.     

PH‐20 but not acrosin is involved in sperm penetration of the macaque zona pellucida

In this study, we investigated the functions of PH‐20 and acrosin during the interaction of macaque sperm with the zona pellucida. Both of these sperm enzymes have been reported to be present on the inner acrosomal membrane of acrosome reacted sperm, and have been suggested to play a role during secondary sperm‐zona binding in other species. Anti‐macaque PH‐20 IgG, anti‐pig acrosin IgG and soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) were used as probes for immunolocalization of the two proteins at the ultrastructural level, and as reagents for blocking sperm penetration of the macaque zona pellucida in vitro. As a control, we performed similar studies with antibodies to CD‐46, which is also located on the inner acrosomal membrane, but has no known function in sperm‐zona pellucida interaction. After labeling with anti‐acrosin IgG, gold label was not present on the sperm surface before the acrosome reaction, but was detected over the entire head of sperm that were induced to acrosome react with calcium ionophore A23187. In contrast, when sperm were induced to acrosome react by binding to intact zona pellucida, acrosin was present in the acrosomal shroud but not on the inner acrosomal membrane. Similar results were obtained when SBTI was used as a probe for enzyme localization. PH‐20 and CD‐46 were demonstrated on the inner acrosomal membrane of sperm induced to acrosome react by ionophore treatment and by zona binding. Neither anti‐acrosin IgG nor anti‐CD‐46 IgG affected sperm penetration of the zona at concentrations up to 300 μg/ml, but zona penetration was blocked completely when anti‐PH‐20 IgG (100 μg/ml) was present during sperm‐oocyte interaction. Ultrastructural observations of oocytes incubated with anti‐PH‐20 IgG showed that acrosomal shrouds were present on the zona surface but no sperm had begun to penetrate into the zona substance. We conclude that anti‐PH‐20 IgG prevented sperm penetration of the macaque zona pellucida by interference with secondary sperm‐zona binding, rather than primary sperm‐zona binding or the zona‐induced acrosome reaction. Acrosin was not detected on the inner acrosomal membrane of sperm that are induced to acrosome react after zona binding, and acrosin does not appear to be critical for sperm penetration of the macaque zona pellucida. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 53:350–362, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A hyaluronidase activity of the sperm plasma membrane protein PH-20 enables sperm to penetrate the cumulus cell layer surrounding the egg

A typical mammalian egg is surrounded by an outer layer of about 3,000 cumulus cells embedded in an extracellular matrix rich in hyaluronic acid. A current, widely proposed model is that the fertilizing sperm, while it is acrosome intact, passes through the cumulus cell layer and binds to the egg zona pellucida. This current model lacks a well- supported explanation for how sperm penetrate the cumulus layer. We report that the sperm protein PH-20 has a hyaluronidase activity and is present on the plasma membrane of mouse and human sperm. Brief treatment with purified, recombinant PH-20 can release all the cumulus cells surrounding mouse eggs. Acrosome intact mouse sperm incubated with anti-PH-20 antibodies can not pass through the cumulus layer and thus can not reach the zona pellucida. These results, indicating that PH-20 enables acrosome intact sperm to penetrate the cumulus barrier, reveal a mechanism for cumulus penetration, and thus provide the missing element in the current model.     

Identification of a hyaluronic acid (HA) binding domain in the PH-20 protein that may function in cell signaling.

The macaque sperm surface protein PH-20 is a hyaluronidase, but it also interacts with hyaluronic acid (HA) to increase internal calcium ( [Ca(2+)](i) ) in the sperm cell. A region of the PH-20 molecule, termed Peptide 2 (aa 205-235), has amino acid charge homology with other HA binding proteins. The Peptide 2 sequence was synthesized and two recombinant PH-20 proteins were developed, one containing the Peptide 2 region (G3, aa 143-510) and one without it (E12, aa 291-510). On Western blots, affinity-purified anti-Peptide 2 IgG recognized the 64 kDa band corresponding to PH-20 in acrosome intact sperm and, under reducing conditions, recognized the whole 67 kDa PH-20 and the endoproteolyzed N-terminal fragment of PH-20. HA conjugated to a photoaffinity substrate specifically bound to sperm surface PH-20. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that Fab fragments of anti-Peptide 2 IgG bound to the head of live sperm. Biotinylated HA was bound by Peptide 2 and by sperm extracts in a microplate binding assay, and this binding was inhibited by Fab fragments of anti-Peptide 2 IgG. Biotinylated HA bound to the G3 protein and this binding was inhibited by anti-Peptide 2 Fab, but HA did not bind to the E12 protein. Fab fragments of anti-Peptide 2 IgG inhibited the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) induced in macaque sperm by HA. Our results suggest that the Peptide 2 region of PH-20 is involved in binding HA, which results in the cell signaling events related to the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) during sperm penetration of the cumulus.     

Aggregation of beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase on mouse sperm induces the acrosome reaction

beta-1,4-Galactosyltransferase (GalTase) is present on the surface of mouse sperm, where it functions during fertilization by binding to oligosaccharide residues in the egg zona pellucida. The specific oligosaccharide substrates for sperm GalTase reside on the glycoprotein ZP3, which possesses both sperm-binding and acrosome reaction-inducing activity. A variety of reagents that perturb sperm GalTase activity inhibit sperm binding to the zona pellucida, including UDP-galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, alpha-lactalbumin, and anti-GalTase Fab fragments. However, none of these reagents are able to cross-link GalTase within the membrane nor are they able to induce the acrosome reaction. On the other hand, intact anti-GalTase IgG blocks sperm-zona binding as well as induces the acrosome reaction. Anti-GalTase IgG induces the acrosome reaction by aggregating GalTase on the sperm plasma membrane, as shown by the inability of anti-Gal-Tase Fab fragments to induce the acrosome reaction unless cross-linked with goat anti-rabbit IgG. These data suggest that zona pellucida oligosaccharides induce the acrosome reaction by clustering GalTase on the sperm surface.     

Acrosome reaction induced by immunoaggregation of a proteinase inhibitor bound to the murine sperm head.

ZP3, a glycoprotein of the murine zona pellucida, functions both to bind acrosome intact sperm and to induce the acrosome reaction. Solubilized whole zonae as well as purified ZP3 are able to induce acrosome reactions in capacitated sperm. Pronase digests of whole zonae yield glycopeptides that bind to sperm but are unable to induce acrosome reactions. However, immunoaggregation of these glycopeptides results in the exocytosis of the acrosome in the majority of treated sperm. The data suggest that ZP3 triggers the acrosome reaction by the aggregation of ZP3 binding sites on the sperm head. If aggregation of ZP3 binding sites is important in the induction of the acrosome reaction, then it may be possible to induce the acrosome reaction in the absence of zona by immunoaggregation of the sites. This presentation deals with the immunoaggregation of a proteinase inhibitor of seminal vesicle origin (SVI) that binds to a site on the sperm head known to participate in zona binding. We show that capacitated murine sperm, pretreated with the SVI, will acrosome react, as determined by Coomassie brilliant blue staining, when incubated with rabbit antiinhibitor antiserum (anti-SVI). The percentage of SVI-treated sperm displaying an acrosome reaction is dependent on the concentration of the immune serum. Sperm stain positive for intact acrosomes when anti-SVI Fab fragments or normal rabbit serum is substituted for the immune serum. However, when capacitated sperm, treated with both SVI and anti-SVI Fab fragments, are incubated with goat antirabbit IgG, the majority of sperm acrosome react. The data suggest that the aggregation of SVI bound to the sperm surface, in the absence of zona glycoproteins, is sufficient to induce the acrosome reaction.     

The dual functions of GPI-anchored PH-20: hyaluronidase and intracellular signaling

The ovulated mammalian oocyte is surrounded by the "cumulus ECM", composed of cells embedded in an extracellular matrix that is rich in hyaluronic acid (HA). The cumulus ECM is a viscoelastic gel that sperm must traverse prior to fertilization. Mammalian sperm have a GPI-anchored hyaluronidase which is known as PH-20 and also as SPAM 1. PH-20 is located on the sperm surface, and in the lysosome-derived acrosome, where it is bound to the inner acrosomal membrane. PH-20 appears to be a multifunctional protein; it is a hyaluronidase, a receptor for HA-induced cell signaling, and a receptor for the zona pellucida surrounding the oocyte. The zona pellucida recognition function of PH-20 was discovered first. This function is ascribed to the inner acrosomal membrane PH-20, which appears to differ biochemically from the PH-20 on the sperm surface. Later, when bee venom hyaluronidase was cloned, a marked cDNA sequence homology with PH-20 was recognized, and it is now apparent that PH-20 is the hyaluronidase of mammalian sperm. PH-20 is unique among the hyaluronidases in that it has enzyme activity at both acid and neutral pH, and these activities appear to involve two different domains in the protein. The neutral enzyme activity of plasma membrane PH-20 is responsible for local degradation of the cumulus ECM during sperm penetration. Plasma membrane PH-20 mediates HA-induced sperm signaling via a HA binding domain that is separate from the hyaluronidase domains. This signaling is associated with an increase in intracellular calcium and as a consequence, the responsiveness of sperm to induction of the acrosome reaction by the zona pellucida is increased. There is extensive evidence that GPI-anchored proteins are involved in signal transduction initiated by a diverse group of cell surface receptors. GPI-anchored proteins involved in signaling are often associated with signaling proteins bound to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane, typically Src family, non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases. PH-20 appears to initiate intracellular signaling by aggregating in the plasma membrane, and a 92-kDa protein may be the cell signaling molecule linked to PH-20.     

Competition between zonae pellucidae and a proteinase inhibitor for sperm binding.

Murine sperm bind a proteinase inhibitor of seminal vesicle origin at ejaculation. The inhibitor binds in the acrosomal region of the sperm head and is removed during in utero or in vitro incubation. Adding inhibitor to sperm reduces their ability to bind zonae, while adding the purified inhibitor binding site to cumulus-free, zona-intact oocytes reduces the ability of the oocytes to bind sperm. Immuno-aggregation of the inhibitor binding site results in exocytosis of the acrosome. These observations suggest that the inhibitor binding site may participate in zona binding and the acrosome reaction. If the inhibitor binding site binds both the zona and the seminal inhibitor, then these components should compete with each other for that site on the sperm. We show that purified seminal inhibitor, as well as other proteinase inhibitors, block zona-induced acrosome reactions. Likewise, zona glycopeptides block inhibitor/anti-inhibitor-induced acrosome reactions in a concentration-dependent fashion. The inhibitor/anti-inhibitor-induced acrosome reaction is sensitive to pertussis toxin and proteinase inhibitor and thus is similar to zona-induced reactions. These findings support the suggestion that the trypsin inhibitor binding site on the head of the sperm functions to insure sperm-zona binding and induction of the acrosome reaction.     

Autoradiographic visualization of the mouse egg's sperm receptor bound to sperm

The extracellular coat, or zona pellucida, of mammalian eggs contains species-specific receptors to which sperm bind as a prelude to fertilization. In mice, ZP3, one of only three zona pellucida glycoproteins, serves as sperm receptor. Acrosome-intact, but not acrosome-reacted, mouse sperm recognize and interact with specific O- linked oligosaccharides of ZP3 resulting in sperm-egg binding. Binding, in turn, causes sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction; a membrane fusion event that results in loss of plasma membrane at the anterior region of the head and exposure of inner acrosomal membrane with its associated acrosomal contents. Bound, acrosome-reacted sperm are able to penetrate the zona pellucida and fuse with the egg's plasma membrane (fertilization). In the present report, we examined binding of radioiodinated, purified, egg ZP3 to both acrosome intact and acrosome reacted sperm by whole-mount autoradiography. Silver grains due to bound 125I-ZP3 were found localized to the acrosomal cap region of heads of acrosome-reacted sperm. Under the same conditions, 125I-fetuin bound at only bacKground levels to heads of both acrosome-intact and - reacted sperm, and 125I-ZP2, another zona pellucida glycoprotein, bound preferentially to acrosome-reacted sperm. These results provide visual evidence that ZP3 binds preferentially and specifically to heads of acrosome intact sperm; properties expected of the mouse egg's sperm receptor.     

Migration of the guinea pig sperm membrane protein PH-20 from one localized surface domain to another does not occur by a simple diffusion-trapping mechanism

The redistribution of membrane proteins on the surface of cells is a prevalent feature of differentiation in a variety of cells. In most cases the mechanism responsible for such redistribution is poorly understood. Two potential mechanisms for the redistribution of surface proteins are: (1) passive diffusion coupled with trapping, and (2) active translocation. We have studied the process of membrane protein redistribution for the PH-20 protein of guinea pig sperm, a surface protein required for sperm binding to the egg zona pellucida (P. Primakoff, H. Hyatt, and D. G. Myles (1985). J. Cell Biol. 101, 2239-2244). PH-20 protein is localized to the posterior head plasma menbrane of the mature sperm cell. Following the exocytotic acrosome reaction, PH-20 protein moves into the newly incorporated inner acrosomal membrane (IAM), placing it in a position favorable for a role in binding sperm to the egg zona pellucida (D. G. Myles, and P. Primakoff (1984), J. Cell Biol. 99, 1634-1641). To analyze the mechanistic basis for this protein migration, we have used fluorescence microscopy and digital image processing to characterize PH-20 protein migration in individual cells. PH-20 protein was observed to move against a concentration gradient in the posterior head plasma membrane. This result argues strongly against a model of passive diffusion followed by trapping in the IAM, and instead suggests that an active process serves to concentrate PH-20 protein toward the boundary separating the posterior head and IAM regions. A transient gradient of PH-20 concentration observed in the IAM suggests that once PH-20 protein reaches the IAM, it is freely diffusing. Additionally, we observed that migration of PH-20 protein was calcium dependent.     

Sperm exocytosis increases the amount of PH-20 antigen on the surface of guinea pig sperm

Evidence has been presented that the PH-20 protein functions in sperm adhesion to the egg zona pellucida (Primakoff, P., H. Hyatt, and D. G. Myles, 1985, J. Cell Biol., 101:2239-2244). The PH-20 protein migrates from its original surface domain to a new surface domain after the acrosome reaction (Myles, D. G., and P. Primakoff, 1984, J. Cell Biol., 99:1634-1641). The acrosome reaction is an exocytotic event that results in insertion of a region of the secretory granule membrane, the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM), into the plasma membrane. After the acrosome reaction, PH-20 protein migrates to the IAM from its initial domain on the posterior head surface. We have now found a new dynamic feature of the regulation of PH-20 protein on the sperm surface; exocytosis increases the surface expression of PH-20 protein. After the acrosome reaction there is an approximately threefold increase in the number of PH-20 antigenic sites on the sperm surface. These new antigenic sites are revealed on the surface by insertion of the IAM into the plasma membrane. Our evidence indicates that before the acrosome reaction an intracellular population of PH-20 antigen is localized to the IAM. When migration of the surface population of the PH-20 protein is prevented, PH-20 protein can still be detected on the IAM of acrosome-reacted sperm. Also, PH-20 protein can be detected on the IAM of permeabilized acrosome-intact sperm by indirect immunofluorescence. Thus, the sperm cell regulates the amount of PH-20 protein on its surface by sequestering about two-thirds of the protein on an intracellular membrane and subsequently exposing this population on the cell surface by an exocytotic event. This may be a general mechanism for regulating cell surface composition where a rapid increase in the amount of a cell surface protein is required.     

Acrosome intact and acrosome-reacted human sperm can initiate binding to the zona pellucida

Mammalian sperm must be acrosome reacted before penetrating the zona pellucida. In some species the sperm undergo the acrosome reaction before binding to the zona pellucida and in other species only acrosome intact sperm can initiate binding to the zona. In this study we addressed the question of acrosomal status and sperm-zona binding with human gametes. Sperm acrosome reactions were induced by treatment with human follicular fluid or N-(6-amino-hexyl)-5-chloro-naphthalene sulfonamide (W-7). The sperm suspensions, containing various percentages of acrosome-reacted sperm, were then incubated with human oocytes for 1 min. The acrosomal status of the sperm population bound to the zona was similar to the acrosomal status of the population of sperm in suspension (R2 = 0.77), regardless of the treatment to induce acrosome reactions. Our interpretation of these results is that both acrosome intact and acrosome-reacted human sperm can initiate binding to the zona pellucida. However, we reported earlier (N. L. Cross, P. Morales, J. W. Overstreet, and F. W. Hanson, 1988, Biol. Reprod. 38, 235-244) that the human zona pellucida is able to induce acrosome reactions. Thus, to exclude the possibility that sperm had undergone the acrosome reaction on the zona within 1 min of binding, sperm were suspended in a nominally calcium-free Tyrode's medium (0 Ca-mTyr) before incubation with oocytes (this medium was supplemented with SrCl2 and spermine to support sperm motility and zona binding). In 0 Ca-mTyr, the proportion of acrosome-reacted sperm on the zona was still highly correlated with the proportion of reacted sperm in suspension, indicating that the sperm were reacted before binding. Evidence that 0 Ca-mTyr effectively inhibited acrosome reactions induced by the zona pellucida was derived from experiments in which sperm were treated with human follicular fluid or control medium and the suspensions were diluted with either 0 Ca-mTyr or control medium.4+ Human oocytes were added for 1 min (pulse) at which time some oocytes were fixed and other oocytes were transferred to sperm-free medium and incubated for 35 min (chase) before fixation. Sperm diluted in control medium, pretreated with either human follicular fluid or control medium, showed a similar increase (40%) in the percentage of acrosome reactions among the zona-bound sperm after the chase. Sperm diluted in 0 Ca-mTyr did not show an increase in the percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm on the zona pellucida after the chase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

A transient rise in intracellular Ca2+ is a precursor reaction to the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction in mouse sperm and is blocked by the induced acrosome reaction inhibitor 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate.

The acrosome reaction induced by the zona pellucida in mouse sperm has been shown to proceed in two stages experimentally distinguishable by the fluorescent probe chlortetracycline. Entry into the first stage of sperm bound to isolated, structurally intact zonae pellucidae is blocked by the compound 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate. In this study, we show, utilizing the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fluo-3, that the first stage of the zona-induced acrosome reaction is characterized by an increase in intracellular Ca2+, followed by a decrease as the acrosome reaction proceeds. This calcium transient is completely suppressed by 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate. We conclude that the Ca2+ transient is induced by the zona pellucida and is required for the zona-induced acrosome reaction. Blockage of this sperm intracellular Ca2+ transient provides a mechanism for the inhibitory action of 3-quinuclidinyl benzilate on the zona-induced acrosome reaction in mouse sperm.     

Identification of a secondary sperm receptor in the mouse egg zona pellucida: role in maintenance of binding of acrosome-reacted sperm to eggs

During fertilization in mice, acrosome-intact sperm bind via plasma membrane overlying their head to a glycoprotein, called ZP3, present in the egg extracellular coat or zona pellucida. Bound sperm then undergo the acrosome reaction, which results in exposure of inner acrosomal membrane, penetrate through the zona pellucida, and fuse with egg plasma membrane. Thus, in the normal course of events, acrosome-reacted sperm must remain bound to eggs, despite loss of plasma membrane from the anterior region of the head and exposure of inner acrosomal membrane. Here, we examined maintenance of binding of sperm to the zona pellucida following the acrosome reaction. We found that polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies directed against ZP2, another zona pellucida glycoprotein, did not affect initial binding of sperm to eggs, but inhibited maintenance of binding of sperm that had undergone the acrosome reaction on the zona pellucida. On the other hand, polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies directed against ZP3 did not affect either initial binding of acrosome-intact sperm to eggs or maintenance of binding following the acrosome reaction. We also found that soybean trypsin inhibitor, a protein reported to prevent binding of mouse sperm to eggs, did not affect initial binding of sperm to eggs, but, like antibodies directed against ZP2, inhibited maintenance of binding of sperm that had undergone the acrosome reaction on the zona pellucida. These and other observations suggest that ZP2 serves as a secondary receptor for sperm during the fertilization process in mice and that maintenance of binding of acrosome-reacted sperm to eggs may involve a sperm, trypsin-like proteinase.     

Ultrastructural localization of labeled acrosomal glycoproteins during in vivo fertilization in the rabbit

Rabbit spermatozoa were labeled predominantely in their acrosomal glycoproteins by 1-³H-glucosamine during spermiogenesis. Ova fertilized in vivo by spermatozoa labeled 22 days earlier were analyzed by fine-structure autoradiography for the localization of the label. The latter was found associated with 1) the fused membranes of the acrosomal cap remaining on the zona pellucida surface, 2) the material released on the zona surface after the acrosome reaction and possibly detectable after tannic acid fixation, 3) the equatorial segment of the sperm head and the preequatorial swellings, and 4) other sperm components, eg, the sperm tail. No labeling, on the other hand, was detected on the denuded leading edge of spermatozoa found either in the penetration slit or in the perivitelline space. Our observations suggest the involvement of acrosomal glycoproteins in different mechanisms of sperm/zona pellucida interaction but are not in favor of a major role of (enzymatic) glycoproteins bound to the inner acrosomal membrane during the penetration of the zona pellucida.     

Equine sperm-oocyte interaction: the role of sperm surface hyaluronidase.

The plasma membrane over the sperm head of several mammalian species has been shown to express a glycerolphosphatidylinositol-linked hyaluronidase known as PH-20. This protein has been associated with the sperm's interaction with the oocyte cumulus matrix and zona pellucida. The characteristics of PH-20 in equine sperm have not been clearly defined. In this study, ejaculated gel-free semen from five stallions and epididymal sperm from isolated epididymis from 10 stallions was used to characterize the PH-20 activity in equine sperm. Affinity purified anti-equine PH-20 polyclonal antibody was used to immunodetect sperm surface-associated PH-20 and immunolabel whole sperm. The intracellular calcium indicator, Fluo-3, was used to assess sperm intracellular calcium. Stallion sperm express a surface-associated hyaluronidase localized to the posterior sperm head region in ejaculated sperm. Following in vitro capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis, the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM) displays intense hyaluronidase fluorescence suggesting that the IAM and hyaluronidase plays a significant role in zona penetration by sperm. Sperm incubated in hyaluronan (HA)-containing capacitation medium display an elevated intracellular calcium concentration (P<0.01) that is associated with translocation of PH-20 antigenic sites on the sperm surface in addition to increases in protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Caput- and cauda-derived sperm display developmentally unique PH-20 immunofluorescence expression patterns. These data suggest that the differential expression of PH-20 in ejaculated and epididymal sperm could be involved in cumulus penetration, sperm-egg recognition, and oolemmal fusion in this species.     

Kinetics of onset of mouse sperm acrosome reaction induced by solubilized zona pellucida: fluorimetric determination of loss of pH gradient between acrosomal lumen and medium monitored by dapoxyl (2-aminoethyl) sulfonamide and of intracellular Ca(2+) changes monitored by fluo-3

The onset of the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction in mouse sperm is marked by loss of the pH gradient existing in acrosome-intact sperm between the acidic acrosomal lumen and the suspending medium, due to pore formation between outer acrosomal and plasma membranes. In earlier work, it was shown that this pH gradient loss occurred in single sperm bound to structurally intact zonae pellucidae with a half-time of 2.1 min; the extended kinetics of this loss determined in a sperm population bound to intact zonae was due to a 180-min range of variable lag times. We hypothesized that this lag time range was due to steric constraints imposed by the three-dimensional structure of the structurally intact zona pellucida, and that this constraint should be removed in solubilized zonae. The fluorescent probe, Dapoxyl(TM) (2-aminoethyl)sulfonamide (DAES) allowed a test of this hypothesis in a population of sperm cells. It is a weak base that is non-fluorescent in aqueous solution, but which accumulates in the acidic acrosomal compartment due to the pH gradient with highly enhanced fluorescence; loss of the pH gradient leads to a decrease in fluorescence. The half-time for DAES fluorescence loss in a population of capacitated, acrosome-intact sperm in response to solubilized zona pellucida protein was 2.13 +/- 0.10 min (SEM, n = 9). The agreement between single cell and cell population kinetics validates the hypothesis of steric constraint in the structurally intact zona pellucida. The change in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in response to solubilized zona pellucida, as monitored with fluo-3, was a rapid increase, followed by a decrease, with a half-time of 0.85 +/- 0.09 min (SEM, n = 6) to a steady state level higher than the initial level, indicating this Ca(2+) transient as the precursor reaction to onset of the zona-induced acrosome reaction.     

Signal transduction pathways that regulate sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction

Ejaculated spermatozoa must undergo physiological priming as they traverse the female reproductive tract before they can bind to the egg’s extracellular coat, the zona pellucida (ZP), undergo the acrosome reaction, and fertilize the egg. The preparatory changes are the net result of a series of biochemical and functional modifications collectively referred to as capacitation. Accumulated evidence suggests that the event that initiates capacitation is the efflux of cholesterol from the sperm plasma membrane (PM). The efflux increases permeability and fluidity of the sperm PM and causes influx of Ca²⁺ ions that starts a signaling cascade and result in sperm capacitation. The binding of capacitated spermatozoa to ZP further elevates intrasperm Ca²⁺ and starts a new signaling cascade which open up Ca²⁺ channels in the sperm PM and outer acrosomal membrane (OAM) and cause the sperm to undergo acrosomal exocytosis. The hydrolytic action of the acrosomal enzymes released at the site of sperm-egg (zona) binding, along with the hyperactivated beat pattern of the bound spermatozoon, are important factors in directing the sperm to penetrate the ZP and fertilize the egg. The role of Ca²⁺-signaling in sperm capacitation and induction of the acrosome reaction (acrosomal exocytosis) has been of wide interest. However, the precise mechanism(s) of its action remains elusive. In this article, we intend to highlight data from this and other laboratories on Ca²⁺ signaling cascades that regulate sperm functions.     

Mouse sperm lacking cell surface hyaluronidase PH-20 can pass through the layer of cumulus cells and fertilize the egg

The function of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidase PH-20 in fertilization has long been believed to enable acrosome-intact sperm to pass through the layer of cumulus cells and reach the egg zona pellucida. In this study, we have produced mice carrying a null mutation in the PH-20 gene using homologous recombination. Despite the absence of sperm PH-20, the mutant male mice were still fertile. In vitro fertilization assays showed that mouse sperm lacking PH-20 possess a reduced ability to disperse cumulus cells from the cumulus mass, resulting in delayed fertilization solely at the early stages after insemination. Moreover, SDS-PAGE of sperm extracts and subsequent Western blot analysis revealed the presence of other hyaluronidase(s), except PH-20, presumably within the acrosome of mouse sperm. These data provide evidence that PH-20 is not essential for fertilization, at least in the mouse, suggesting that the other hyaluronidase(s) may play an important role in sperm penetration through the cumulus cell layer and/or the egg zona pellucida, possibly in cooperation with PH-20, although the importance of sperm motility cannot be neglected.