Effect of Akti‑2 on sperm motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction in a mouse model

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the Akt inhibitor, Akti‑2, on the sperm motility and acrosome reaction in mice. Mature sperms from the adult mice, aged 8 weeks, were co‑incubated with Akti‑2 for ~30 min at 37˚C in 5% CO2, and the sperm viability was assessed by eosin‑nigrosin staining. The sperm total and progressive motility were analyzed by computer‑aided sperm analysis. In addition, the acrosome reaction of sperms was detected by the acid phosphatase assay, Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining and fluorescein‑isothiocyanate conjugated pisum sativum lectin staining, respectively. Compared with the control (dimethyl sulfoxide), Akti‑2 had no effect on sperm viability, but it suppressed the total and progressive motility significantly. Furthermore, the capacitation‑associated protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the acrosome reaction induced by calcium ionophore A23187 could be suppressed by Akti‑2. These experiments confirmed that Akti‑2 significantly impaired the sperm functions, including motility, capacitation and acrosome reaction, and provide the proof for its potential in male reproductive toxicity.