Influence of co-culture with established human endometrial epithelial and stromal cell lines on sperm movement characteristics.
The effects of co-culture of human spermatozoa with human immortalized endometrial cells - epithelial or stromal - on sperm movement characteristics, including hyperactivation, were studied using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Epithelial and stromal cell types could be separated following 8-10 days of culture of endometrial cells originating from human biopsies. Both cell types were immortalized by the SV 40 large T antigen. Co-incubation of sperm with epithelial and stromal monolayers enhanced the rate of hyperactivation: 24.9% (P <0.05) and 17.8% (P = 0.05) versus 9.5% as control, respectively, whereas the majority of motility parameters remained unchanged. Conditioned media had no effect upon sperm parameters, including hyperactivation. Co-incubation with either monolayer was able to maintain sperm motility over a longer period than incubation in control medium alone. In four patients whose spermatozoa did not exhibit hyperactivation, co-incubation with epithelial cells, but not conditioned medium, allowed normal rates of hyperactivation (range: 6.9-15.6%).
Guerin
J F
JF
Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Faculté de Médecine, Lyon, France.
Merviel
P
P
Plachot
M
M
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000235:genetics; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned