Mechanism of IL-6 on acrosome reaction in human sperm / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on acrosome reaction (AR) in human sperm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sperm acrosin activity was measured by BAEE/ADH and AR evaluated by FITC-PSA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>IL-6 could induce the activity of acrosin and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and enhance AR in human sperm. AR was not induced by extracellular Ca2+, and IL-6-induced AR did not occur in Ca2(+)-free medium. Calphostin C, one inhibitor of the protein kinase C (PKC), could block IL-6-induced AR in human sperm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>IL-6 could induce AR by stimulating the activity of acrosin and SOD in human sperm, which also involves the activation of PKC, and requires the presence of extracellular Ca2+.</p>