Question

Which one takes part in acrosome synthesis?
A) Mitochondria
B) Nucleus
C) Chromosomes
D) Golgi complex

Answer 1

Hint: Acrosome is a cap-like structure that is present at the anterior end of the head of the sperm. They are generally synthesized during the process of spermatogenesis. Their synthesis is needed for the many lysosomal enzymes to act.

Complete answer:
During the process of sexual reproduction, a fusion of both the gametes takes place for the formation of the zygote. Acrosomes play a major role in the fusion process taking place in animals or humans. It is an organelle that develops over the anterior half of the head in the spermatozoa.

Spermatozoa vary a good deal in size and shape in different animals. While usually thread-like, some are amoeboid and some the peculiar shapes. Their size is usually microscopic. In general, a spermatozoon consists of four parts: head, neck, middle- piece and tail. The head is composed of a highly condensed, compact nucleus. The head has at its forward end an apical structure called the acrosome. It is derived from the Golgi apparatus or complex. It contains hydrolytic enzymes such as hyaluronidase and acrosin which helps in the breakdown of the outer membrane of the ovum, known as zona pellucida, allowing the haploid nucleus that is present in the sperm cell to join with the haploid nucleus in the ovum.

Shedding of the acrosome takes place in vitro by the substance which a sperm cell may encounter naturally during the process such as progesterone or follicular fluid. It is done to serve as a positive control when assessing the acrosome reaction of a sperm sample by the process of flow cytometry. It is done so as to stain it with fluoresceinated lectin.

The correct answer is option D, Golgi complex.

Note: There are some cases in which the sperm head is rounded, such a condition is termed globozoospermia. It is one of the rare and severe forms of monomorphic teratozoospermia in which 85% of the spermatozoa in sperm have abnormalities. In this condition the Golgi apparatus is not transformed into the acrosome, causing male fertility.