Date of Award
5-16-2011
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Agriculture, MSA
First Advisor
William Humphrey
Committee Members
Anne Grippo; Donald Kennedy
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2011 G35
Abstract
Capacitation and acrosome reaction are important processes that sperm cells must undergo in the female reproductive tract in order for fertilization of the ova to occur. Genistein, a phytoestrogen, has been shown to inhibit protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) receptors, an important signal transducer involved in capacitation and acrosome reaction of sperm cells, leading to decreased fertility. In this study, genistein was added to electroejaculated ram sperm in concentrations of 100 µM, 1 mM, and 2 mM, estradiol-17â (100 µM) to serve as a positive estrogenic control. Sheep serum was used to initiate sperm capacitation, and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 was used to initiate acrosome reaction. To determine sperm acrosome reaction and viability, the fluorescein-conjugated lectin Pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA) and propidium iodide were added to the cells and analyzed with the FACSCalibur flow cytometer. This study showed that genistein does have an effect (P < 0.001) on the inhibition of acrosome reaction in ram sperm. At concentrations 2 mM (P < 0.001) and 1 mM (P<0.020), genistein inhibited acrosome reaction of the total ram sperm population (live + dead). Estradiol (100µM) did not inhibit AR in total (live + dead) sperm population.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Gerecke, Samantha L., "Genistein's Effect on Acrosome Reaction of Ram Sperm" (2011). Student Theses and Dissertations. 932.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/932
