A Trypsin-Like Enzyme in Acrosomal Extracts of Chicken, Turkey and Quail Spermatozoa

The presence of an active trypsin-like enzyme in the acrosomes of chicken, turkey and quail spermatozoa was evaluated. Pooled semen samples (0.5 ml.) were collected from each species and the sperm washed several times with modified Ringer’s solution. Acrosomal extracts were prepared and assayed for trypsin-like enzyme by the presence of esterase activity using TAME (p-toluensulfonyl-l-arginine methyl ester) as a substrate and measuring the change in optical density per minute at 247 mμ. Esterase activity of acrosomal extracts obtained from recently ejaculated spermatozoa of the chicken, turkey and quail indicate that an active trypsin-like enzyme is present in the acrosomes of spermatozoa from all three of these species.