The specificity of human spermatozoa/zona pellucida interaction under hemizona assay conditions.
The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate the specificity of human sperm/zona pellucida interaction under hemizona assay (HZA) conditions in experiments with gametes from the same and different species. Human, cynomolgus monkey and hamster oocytes were used after salt-storage. Oocytes were bisected into matching hemizonae by micromanipulation and used in the HZA. Semen was obtained from healthy men (donors) and male cynomolgus monkeys and prepared by wash and swim-up. Sperm binding to matching hemizonae was assessed (tight binding) after 4-h coincubation in the HZA in homologous and interspecies experiments. Acrosome reaction was evaluated in the sperm droplets using FITC-PSA and on the hemizonae using the T-6 monoclonal antibody. On human hemizonae, the number of tightly bound sperm for human and monkey were 93.2 +/- 15.8 and 3.9 +/- 1.3, respectively (P < 0.001). On monkey hemizonae, the number of tightly bound sperm for monkey and human were 126.0 +/- 34.8 and 2.8 +/- 1.6, (P = 0.02) respectively. On hamster hemizonae, there was negligible binding of human and monkey sperm. There was a significantly higher incidence of acrosome reacted sperm on the zona pellucida in homologous compared to heterologous experiments. These results demonstrate a high species-specificity of human gamete functions under HZA conditions, providing further support for the use of this bioassay in infertility and contraception testing.
Oehninger
S
S
Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk 23507.
Mahony
M C
MC
Swanson
J R
JR
Hodgen
G D
GD
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*