Stimulation of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) proacrosin activation by oviduct fluid

Abstract
Pronase-resistant low MW stimulators for the activation of proacrosin to acrosin [EC 3.4.21.10] were found in rhesus monkey oviduct fluid collected before, during and after ovulation but the presence of high concentrations of acrosin inhibitors before and after ovulation partly masked the stimulation in unfractionated fluid. This low MW fraction of oviduct fluid had no detectable esterase or amidase activity by itself and the stimulating factors were sensitive to digestion by hyaluronidase and chondroitin ABC lyase [from Proteus vulgaris] and were presumed to be glycosaminoglycans. Heparin and hyaluronic acid had similar effects. Soluble glycosaminoglycans at the site of fertilization may have a role in capacitation and fertilization.

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