Biomaterial Database

The role of acrosin in sperm penetration through human cervical mucus. 1979

S A Beyler, and L J Zaneveld

Enzymes have been implicated in facilitating cervical mucus penetration by spermatozoa. One of these enzymes in the neutral proteinase acrosin, which is associated with the sperm acrosome. To determine the validity of this hypothesis, human spermatozoa were incubated with the following acrosin inhibitors: p-aminobenzamidine (AB), N-alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK), and p-nitropheyl-p'-guanidino benzoate (NPGB). An in vitro slide test system was developed which allowed inhibitor-treated and control spermatozoa to be evaluated against the same human cervical mucus sample. At inhibitor concentrations far exceeding those necessary for the inhibition of human acrosin, there was no effect on spermatozoal penetration into or through the mucus. These findings indicate that, in man, acrosin activity is neither necessary nor facilitory to sperm penetration of cervical mucus. Evidence is also presented that demonstrates the superiority of the newly developed double-interface slide test, especially for comparative purposes, over the tests currently in use.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007246	Infertility	A reduced or absent capacity to reproduce.	Sterility,Reproductive Sterility,Sterility, Reproductive,Sub-Fertility,Subfertility
D008297	Male		Males
D008828	Microbiological Techniques	Techniques used in microbiology.	Microbiologic Technic,Microbiologic Technics,Microbiologic Technique,Microbiological Technics,Technic, Microbiologic,Technics, Microbiological,Technique, Microbiologic,Techniques, Microbiologic,Microbiologic Techniques,Microbiological Technic,Microbiological Technique,Technic, Microbiological,Technics, Microbiologic,Technique, Microbiological,Techniques, Microbiological
D011480	Protease Inhibitors	Compounds which inhibit or antagonize biosynthesis or actions of proteases (ENDOPEPTIDASES).	Antiprotease,Endopeptidase Inhibitor,Endopeptidase Inhibitors,Peptidase Inhibitor,Peptidase Inhibitors,Peptide Hydrolase Inhibitor,Peptide Hydrolase Inhibitors,Peptide Peptidohydrolase Inhibitor,Peptide Peptidohydrolase Inhibitors,Protease Antagonist,Protease Antagonists,Antiproteases,Protease Inhibitor,Antagonist, Protease,Antagonists, Protease,Hydrolase Inhibitor, Peptide,Hydrolase Inhibitors, Peptide,Inhibitor, Endopeptidase,Inhibitor, Peptidase,Inhibitor, Peptide Hydrolase,Inhibitor, Peptide Peptidohydrolase,Inhibitor, Protease,Inhibitors, Endopeptidase,Inhibitors, Peptidase,Inhibitors, Peptide Hydrolase,Inhibitors, Peptide Peptidohydrolase,Inhibitors, Protease,Peptidohydrolase Inhibitor, Peptide,Peptidohydrolase Inhibitors, Peptide
D002582	Cervix Mucus	A slightly alkaline secretion of the endocervical glands. The consistency and amount are dependent on the physiological hormone changes in the menstrual cycle. It contains the glycoprotein mucin, amino acids, sugar, enzymes, and electrolytes, with a water content up to 90%. The mucus is a useful protection against the ascent of bacteria and sperm into the uterus. (From Dictionary of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1988)	Fern Test,Palm-Leaf Reaction,Cervical Mucus,Fern Tests,Mucus, Cervical,Mucus, Cervix,Palm Leaf Reaction,Palm-Leaf Reactions,Reaction, Palm-Leaf,Reactions, Palm-Leaf,Test, Fern,Tests, Fern
D005260	Female		Females
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
D013083	Sperm Transport	Passive or active movement of SPERMATOZOA from the testicular SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES through the male reproductive tract as well as within the female reproductive tract.	Transport, Sperm
D014108	Tosylphenylalanyl Chloromethyl Ketone	An inhibitor of Serine Endopeptidases. Acts as alkylating agent and is known to interfere with the translation process.	Chlorophenyltosylamidobutanone,TPCK,Tosylphenylalanyl Chloromethane,Chloromethane, Tosylphenylalanyl,Chloromethyl Ketone, Tosylphenylalanyl,Ketone, Tosylphenylalanyl Chloromethyl