Nature of the rabbit acrosome reaction-inducing activity of follicular fluid.

Follicular fluid samples from rabbits, cats, pigs, women and cows had acrosome reaction-inducing activity (ARIA) on rabbit spermatozoa as determined by differential staining after incubation with these fluids. Activity was retained after dialysis and at least 50% was found to be labile when heated to 56 degrees C for as little as 20 min. The induction of the acrosome reaction by bovine follicular fluid showed a dependence on the concentration of follicular fluid and spermatozoa and on calcium ions, and had a pH optimum of approximately 8. Enzyme treatments showed that proteases destroyed the ARIA and this activity was completely blocked by treatment of bovine follicular fluid with goat anti-bovine antiserum. Electron microscope observations indicated the similarity of the reactions observed to that occurring in vivo. It is concluded that the rabbit acrosome reaction inducing-activity of bovine follicular fluid is a serum component(s), probably a protein(s) of high molecular weight.