Sperm cell plasma membrane and the outer acrosomal membrane fuse profu
sely during the acrosome reaction. The process is triggered by extrace
llular signals that elicit several intracellular events leading ultima
tely to membrane fusion. We have developed a streptolysin O permeabili
zing protocol that selectively affects the spermatozoon plasma membran
e without causing a significant loss of the acrosomal content. Most of
the acrosomal acid phosphatase remained sperm-associated even after a
20 min incubation at 37 degrees C. However, the presence of 100 mu M
Ca2+ in the incubation buffer stimulates the release of the enzyme. Th
e reaction was followed biochemically, measuring the acid phosphatase
activity released to the medium and morphologically by the binding of
fluorescein isothiocynate-conjugated peanut agglutinin and by electron
microscopy. The results show that the streptolysin O permeabilized sp
ermatozoon is a promising model for studying the complex set of events
mediating and regulating the acrosome reaction.