Capacitation of golden hamster spermatozoa during incubation in culture medium

Abstract

In the experiments reported here, capacitation was achieved during preincubation of spermatozoa in culture, but the acrosome reaction was only induced in the great majority of spermatozoa following the addition of the products of ovulation. Capacitation and the acrosome reaction may thus occur under quite different conditions in the hamster, and may be considered and investigated separately, just as in the rabbit. In this way, the role of follicular fluid components, which have been implicated in capacitation can perhaps be clarified.