Method for inducing the acrosome reaction in human and animal spermatozoa

A method of assessing the fertilization potential of sperm from a mammalian subject, comprising the steps of:

• a) taking a semen specimen from the subject and diluting said specimen with a suitable culture medium;
• b) washing the spermatozoa in the specimen free of seminal plasma without demembranating the spermatozoa or treating them to increase their permeability;
• c) resuspending the spermatozoa in culture medium;
• d) diluting a first sample of the resuspended spermatozoa with culture medium containing sufficient dissolved ATP to give a final ATP concentration in said first sample of 0.5 to 10.0 mM;
• e) taking a second sample of the resuspended spermatozoa and diluting said sample with a non-ATP containing culture medium;
• f) incubating both of said first and second samples at 30.degree.-40.degree. C.;
• g) centrifuging the incubated sperm samples and measuring the acrosin contents thereof;
• and
• h) comparing the acrosin contents of the first and second samples by spectrophotometric measurement whereby the magnitude of the difference in acrosin secretion levels between the first and second sperm samples correlates to fertilization potential of the subject's sperm.

A kit for the evaluation of the fertilization potential of mammalian sperm comprising:

• a) a supply of sterile culture medium;
• b) a supply of sterile ATP;
• c) a set of sterile culture tubes;
• and
• d) a supply of acrosine substrate suitable for use in assaying for acrosine.

A method of inducing mammalian sperm to undergo the acrosome reaction, comprising the steps of:

• a) taking a semen specimen from an infertile male subject;
• b) separating the spermatozoa from the seminal plasma;
• and
• c) treating the spermatozoa with extracellular ATP in culture medium, whereupon the spermatozoa may be used in artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization procedures.