Biomaterial Database

Acrosin activity of cryo-preserved human spermatozoa. 1975

W B Schill

The acrosin activity of human spermatozoa was determined in fresh, glycerolated, and cryo-preserved semen specimens. In 119 semen specimens, mean increases in acrosin activity of 62% in glycerolated and 56% in cryo-preserved samples were found. Thus, no statistically significant differences in mean acrosin activity were found between glycerolated and cryo-preserved spermatozoa. However, 23.5% of the cryo-preserved samples showed a significant decrease in extractable acrosin activity when compared with untreated controls. In oligospermic specimens (less than 40 million spermatozoa/ml), a statistically significant decrease in acrosin activity due to cryo-injury was detectable. Differentiation of specimens responding to glycerol pretreatment with an increase in extractable acrosin activity from those responding with a decrease showed a different freezing behavior, indicating two ejaculate types with respect to acrosin extraction. Samples frozen without glycerol protection showed the same amounts of extractable acrosin activity as did glycerol-protected specimens. The stability of acrosin in acidic acrosomal extracts during liquid nitrogen freeze treatment was confirmed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010450	Endopeptidases	A subclass of PEPTIDE HYDROLASES that catalyze the internal cleavage of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS.	Endopeptidase,Peptide Peptidohydrolases
D002470	Cell Survival	The span of viability of a cell characterized by the capacity to perform certain functions such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, some form of responsiveness, and adaptability.	Cell Viability,Cell Viabilities,Survival, Cell,Viabilities, Cell,Viability, Cell
D003451	Cryoprotective Agents	Substances that provide protection against the harmful effects of freezing temperatures.	Cryoprotective Agent,Cryoprotective Effect,Cryoprotective Effects,Agent, Cryoprotective,Agents, Cryoprotective,Effect, Cryoprotective,Effects, Cryoprotective
D005615	Freezing	Liquids transforming into solids by the removal of heat.	Melting
D005990	Glycerol	A trihydroxy sugar alcohol that is an intermediate in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It is used as a solvent, emollient, pharmaceutical agent, or sweetening agent.	1,2,3-Propanetriol,Glycerin,1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane,Glycerine
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000176	Acrosin	A trypsin-like enzyme of spermatozoa which is not inhibited by alpha 1 antitrypsin.	Acrosomal proteinase,Akrosin,M beta-Acrosin,M beta Acrosin,beta-Acrosin, M,proteinase, Acrosomal
D013081	Sperm Motility	Movement characteristics of SPERMATOZOA in a fresh specimen. It is measured as the percentage of sperms that are moving, and as the percentage of sperms with productive flagellar motion such as rapid, linear, and forward progression.	Motilities, Sperm,Motility, Sperm,Sperm Motilities
D013094	Spermatozoa	Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility.	Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms