Effect of progesterone on human zona pellucida sperm binding and oocyte penetrating capacity.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if sperm exposure to P produces an enhancement in its fertilizing capacity.


METHODS
Sperm from fertile donors were exposed to P at 0.1 and 1.0 microgram/mL for 1 or 24 hours. The effects on hyperactivated (HA) motility at 1 and 4 hours, acrosome reaction (as determined by Pisum sativum agglutinin or T6/antibody techniques), on human zona pellucida binding (by using the hemizona assay), and on the penetrating ability (by using the zona-free hamster ova assay) were evaluated.


RESULTS
Exposure to P at 1.0 microgram/mL enhanced HA motility after 1 and 4 hours of P exposure, the acrosome reaction after 24 hours' incubation, the number of sperm bound/hemizona after 1-hour incubation, and the penetration rates in the hamster ova assay at both incubation intervals.


CONCLUSIONS
Sperm exposure to P enhances its fertilizing capacity in fertile men, and further investigation is warranted as a possible treatment for male factor patients.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California San Francisco-Fresno 93703.
C E
CE
Sueldo
S
S
Oehninger
E
E
Subias
M
M
Mahony
N J
NJ
Alexander
L J
LJ
Burkman
A A
AA
Acosta
D000177:Acrosome / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
D011374:Progesterone