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The effects of prolactin on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill.
Objective:
To study the effects of human prolactin (PRL) on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction.
Design:
Acrosome reactions were induced by the addition of follicular fluid (FF) and progesterone (P). Experiments were performed to determine time and dose-dependent effects of PRL on sperm capacitation, potentiation of the acrosome reaction, decapacitating effects, and potential for PRL to induce an acrosome reaction.
Results:
An average of 31.5% of spermatozoa underwent acrosome reaction with addition of FF and P. No time- or dose-dependent PRL effects on sperm capacitation or acrosome reaction were found (P greater than 0.05).
Conclusion:
Prolactin does not play an important role in human sperm capacitation or acrosome reaction.