RELATION OF HUMAN SPERM ACROSIN ACTIVITY AND FERTILIZATION IN-VITRO

The aim of the study described here was to determine the possible cont ribution of the acrosin activity test to routine semen analysis in enh ancing the precision of the prognosis of IVF success in a group of pat ients in which the contribution of the egg factor to infertility was r uled out (20 cases) compared to a control IVF group (39 cases). Semen analysis, acrosin activity and acrosome ultrastructure were determined for all semen samples. The group with high fertilization rates was co mprised of normozoospermic patients while the group with low fertiliza tion rates was comprised of astheno-teratozoospermic patients. The mea n acrosin level of the positive IVF group was significantly higher tha n that of the negative group (51.7 +/- 33.2 and 28.6 +/- 13.7, respect ively). Two parameters: per cent motile spermatozoa and acrosin level, were found to have a significant positive correlation with subsequent successful IVF (r = 0.36, P < 0.006; r = 0.37, P < 0.004, respectivel y); and agenesis of the acrosome was found to have a significant negat ive correlation (r = -0.33, P < 0.01). The ability of these parameters to correctly predict fertilization success was 59%, with 5% false pos itive, among which 15.4 % was predicted solely by the acrosin level (a bove 54 mu IU 10(6) cells(-1)) and 23% solely by per cent motile sperm atozoa (above 50%). Abnormalities of the acrosome ultrastructure did n ot contribute further to the correct classification. The apparent clin ical benefit of the acrosin level test is discussed.