The relationship between acrosome reaction and polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in boar sperm

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between acrosome reactions and fatty acid composition with respect to fertility in boar sperm. The acrosome reaction was induced more than 85% by 60 mM methyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin (MBCD), and plasma membrane integrity was significantly reduced dependent on the MBCD level in boar sperm ( p < .05). The acrosome‐reacted sperm exhibited significantly higher saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) composition compared to the non‐acrosome reaction group ( p < .0001). In addition, the PUFAs, C22:5n‐6 (docosapentaenoic acid [DPA]; p < .01) and C22:6n‐3 (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]; p < .0001) were significantly decreased, and cleavage and blastocyst formation of oocytes were significantly ( p < .0001) decreased in acrosome‐reacted sperm relative to non‐acrosome‐reacted sperm. Moreover, acrosome reaction was positively correlated with SFAs, whereas negatively correlated with PUFAs, of the PUFAs, the DPA ( p = .0005) and DHA ( p = <.0001) were negatively correlated with the acrosome reaction. Therefore, these results suggest that the PUFAs composition of sperm is closely involved in acrosome reaction in pigs.