Studies on In Vitro Capacitation by Lysolecithin and In Vitro Fertilizing Ability of Ejaculated Rabbit Sperm

This study was conducted to define the effect of addition of lysolecithin (LC) and 20% v/v rabbit serum to sperm preincubation medium on the induction of acrosome reaction (AR) an fertilizing ability in vitro of LG-added sperm. Ejaculated rabbit sperm from New Zealand White buck was washed once by centrifugation, then preincubated for 2 or 4 hrs in a chemically defined medium (DM), DM plus 20% rabbit serum or BSA-free DM plus 20% rabbit serum at 37$^{\circ}C$ water bath or CO2 incubator. At the end of preincubation LC was added to the preincubated sperm, which was stained at 0.5 to 4 hr later and examined for AR and sperm motility. For in vitro fertilization, gametes were coincubated in DM up to 24 hrs and thereafter fertilized embryos were incubated in BSM -II up to 48 hrs. Addition of LC to 4-hr preincubated sperm was more effective for the AR and sperm motility than that to 2-hr preincubated sperm and optimal concentration of LC for AR was about 80${\mu}$g/ml. A significant increase in AR occured from 20 to 30 min. after addition of 80 to 100${\mu}$g/ml in 4-hr preincubated sperm. BSA-free DM plus 20% rabbit serum showed a higher AR and sperm motility than those of DM plus 20% rabbit serum in LC-added sperm after 4-hr preincubation. The incidence of AR after 4-hr preincubation and at 30 min after 60${\mu}$g/ml LC addition varied greatly among individual bucks. Sixty ${\mu}$g/ml LC-added sperm showed a slight high cleavage rate over control levels, but 100${\mu}$g/ml LC-added sperm showed lower cleavage rate rather than 60${\mu}$g/ml LC. It is concluded that optimal concentration of LC for high AR induction and sperm motility in 4-hr preincubated sperm was about 80${\mu}$g/ml, but 60${\mu}$g/ml level was more useful for in vitro fertilization.