Stimulation of an exocytotic event, the hamster sperm acrosome reaction, by <i>cis</i>‐unsaturated fatty acids

Abstract

The cis-unsaturated fatty acids oleic, arachidonic and cis-vaccenic stimulated the hamster sperm acrosome reaction in vitro (an exocytotic event which occurs in the sperm head and which is essential for fertilization). The trans-isomers of oleic and vaccenic acids did not stimulate the acrosome reaction, nor did the cis-unsaturated fatty acids petroselenic and docosahexaenoic or the saturated fatty acids lauric, myristic or stearic. This is the first report of a stimulatory effect of cis-unsaturated fatty acids on an exocytic event in an intact viable cell.