Evidence for the role of a trypsin‐like enzyme in the hamster sperm acrosome reaction

Abstract

Acrosome reactions occurring in vitro in hamster sperm capacitated by bovine follicular fluid were severely inhibited by four synthetic trypsin inhibitors and by Zn² +. Three polypeptide trypsin inhibitors and a synthetic chymotrypsin inhibitor did not inhibit the acrosome reaction, and Ca² + overcame the inhibition by Zn². These results suggest that a trypsin-like enzyme (possibly acrosin) plays a role in the acrosome reaction.