Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Real-Time Imaging of Acrosomal Calcium Dynamics and Exocytosis in Live Mouse Sperm
Published on: October 13, 2023
Recording and sorting live human sperm undergoing acrosome reaction
Felipe Carlos Martín Zoppino1, Narciso D Halón, Matías A Bustos
1Instituto de Histología y Embriología Dr Mario H Burgos, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas - Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, School of Medicine, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.
Objective:
To develop and evaluate a method to detect acrosome reaction (AR) in live human sperm.
Design:
Prospective study.
Setting:
Basic research laboratory.
Patient(S):
Human semen samples with normal parameters obtained from healthy donors.
Intervention(S):
Acrosome reaction assays.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Fluorescence assessment of AR.
Result(S):
Evaluating acrosomal exocytosis in live human sperm is challenging. In this study, we report that in reacting sperm, Pisum sativum agglutinin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate rapidly permeates into the acrosome when fusion pores open and stabilizes the acrosomal matrix, preventing the dispersal of the granule contents.
Conclusion(S):
Fluorescent Pisum sativum agglutinin can be used to visualize AR in real time, to determine the percentage of sperm undergoing exocytosis upon stimulation, and to separate the population of reacting sperm by flow cytometry.
