Calcium-induced modification of the acrosomal matrix in digitonin-permeabilized guinea pig spermatozoa

In this report we describe and partially characterize a preparation of digitonin-permeabilized guinea pig spermatozoa that undergo a rapid and synchronous modification of the acrosomal matrix in response to calcium. Permeabilization of cauda epididymal spermatozoa by digitonin was monitored by using adenylate cyclase activity as an indicator. Spermatozoa (5 x 10(7) cells) treated with 0.005% digitonin for 15 s exhibited maximal adenylate cyclase activity but generally retained their structural morphology, as examined by phase-contrast and transmission electron microscopy. The ratio fo cell number to detergent concentration was the critical factor for determining both the efficiency of permeabilization and the maintenance of structural integrity. When permeabilized spermatozoa were treated with 2 mM CaCl2, the cells underwent a rapid and synchronous modification of the acrosomal matrix (AM). As observed by phase-contrast microscopy, the response to CaCl2 was characterized by events that occurred in the following temporal sequence: disruption of the sperm rouleaux, the loss of refractility by the apical segment of the sperm acrosome, and detachment of the apical segment from the spermatozoa. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the loss of refractility from the sperm apical segment was coincident with a calcium-induced dispersion of the AM. Analysis of the proteins released during this response, by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, revealed that a specific subset of sperm proteins was released from the spermatozoa, including a major = staining, 45,000 Mr protein apparently generated from a higher molecular weight precursor during the acrosome reaction.