Fate of the acrosome in ooplasm in pigs after IVF and ICSI

BACKGROUND: ICSI bypasses the sperm–oolemma interactions that, in normal fertilization, depend on completion of the acrosome reaction. Morphological changes in the acrosomes of sperm in the ooplasm were therefore examined following IVF and ICSI using pig gametes. METHODS: In-vitro-matured porcine oocytes were used for ICSI or IVF. Oocytes were then stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut agglutinin lectin (FITC-PNA), which specifically labels the outer acrosomal membrane of boar sperm and the cortical granules (CG) in porcine oocytes. This was followed by observation under a confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: In ICSI, PNA showed the presence of disintegrated acrosomes that classified into four categories. Heterogeneous chromatin decondensation was observed in the sperm with intact/disintegrated acrosome, whereas acrosomes were barely detected in oocytes which had formed a male pronucleus. Both in ICSI and IVF, PNA-positive tails were concomitantly observed with one type of disintegrated acrosome, which was considered to be acrosome-reacted. The disappearance of CG in activated oocytes after ICSI was similar to that after IVF. CONCLUSIONS: The PNA-binding properties of sperm head components introduced into the ooplasm during ICSI are different from those after IVF. The delay of sperm chromatin decondensation is associated with that of acrosomal disassembly. Acrosomes appear to disintegrate in the ooplasm whether or not the acrosome reaction has taken place. Oocytes undergoing ICSI appear normally activated in terms of meiotic resumption and CG exocytosis. Key words: acrosome/cortical granules/ICSI/peanut agglutinin lectin/pig