Vitronectin is an intrinsic protein of human spermatozoa released during the acrosome reaction

Evidence has been presented that oolemmal integrins and their ligands on spermatozoa may play a role in gamete interactions leading to fertilization. We previously demonstrated that vitronectin (Vn) could be extracted from fresh human spermatozoa and detected in Western blots, and Vn was observed on the surface of living, capacitated sperm by indirect immunofluorescence. In the present experiments, messenger RNA encoding Vn was detected in human testis poly (A+) RNA using Northern analysis, and Vn was localized within the acrosomal region of ejaculated sperm by immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence staining. During the acrosome reaction, induced in capacitated spermatoza by lonomycin, Vn was released into the medium in a calcium‐dependent manner. Vn appears to be a specific product of intratesticular spermatozoa that is secreted during the acrosome reaction. These findings suggest that Vn is positioned to play a strategic role in gamete interactions leading to fertilization. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.