VAMP/synaptobrevin as an acrosomal marker for human sperm.

OBJECTIVE To determine the possible use of the mammalian acrosomal marker vehicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)/synaptobrevin to detect acrosome abnormalities in human sperm. DESIGN Analysis of human sperm after fixation and staining with an anti-VAMP antibody. SETTING An academic research institution. PATIENT(S) Semen samples from consenting patients who were participating in an infertility treatment program. INTERVENTION(S) Human sperm samples were fixed, permeabilized with detergent, and examined by immunocytochemistry. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Immunostaining. RESULT(S) Observation of sperm from patients with no obvious sperm morphological defects revealed normal looking acrosomes, as assessed by VAMP immunostaining. However, severe acrosome malformations were detected in other cases. The observations registered varied from the absence of a fully formed organelle in samples of patients with globozoospermia to abnormal VAMP staining in samples from patients with acrosomal defects. CONCLUSION VAMP/synaptobrevin may be a useful marker for the functional assessment of acrosomal status in human sperm.