Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm
Published on: March 1, 2019
The in vitro effect of benzo[a]pyrene on human sperm hyperactivation and acrosome reaction
Dyutiman Mukhopadhyay1, Parag Nandi, Alex C Varghese
1Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India.
Objective:
To evaluate the in vitro effect of benzo[a]pyrene on sperm hyperactivation and acrosome status in normozoospermic semen samples of nonsmokers analyzed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA).
Design:
Experimental in vitro study.
Setting:
Andrology laboratory.
Patient(S):
Thirteen proven fertile, normozoospermic, and nonsmoking men.
Intervention(S):
Spermatozoa were washed free of seminal plasma and were treated with different concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene and compared with controls treated with medium alone. The benzo[a]pyrene concentrations were: 100, 50, 25, and 12.5 microg/mL.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Effect of varying concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene on sperm hyperactivation and acrosomal reaction.
Result(S):
A statistically significant increase in sperm hyperactivation was observed in presence of benzo[a]pyrene at concentrations of >or=50 microg/mL. The result of the acrosome halo test showed that concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene >or=25 microg/mL statistically significantly decreased the percentage of halo formation, indicating an inappropriate (false) acrosome reaction.
Conclusion(S):
Benzo[a]pyrene statistically significantly affected sperm functional competence as evidenced by increased hyperactivation as well as premature acrosomal reaction.
Related Concept Videos
01:41Spermatogenesis
01:16In vitro Mutagenesis