Expression of mannose-ligand receptors on human spermatozoa: effect of lecithin and association with sperm binding to the zona pellucida.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the change in the expression of mannose-ligand receptors and sperm binding capacity after the incubation of sperm cells with lecithin liposomes.


METHODS
A randomized, blinded-controlled experiment.


METHODS
Andrology laboratory at the Lis Maternity Hospital.


METHODS
Fifteen fertile sperm donors and 10 subfertile men.


METHODS
Incubation of sperm samples with either control medium or 1 mg/mL of liposomal lecithin for 2 hours.


METHODS
Expression of mannose-ligand receptors as evaluated by mannosylated bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate and sperm binding to the zona pellucida as evaluated by the hemizona assay.


RESULTS
The mean +/- SE percentages of spermatozoa with patterns I, II, and III were 86% +/- 4.8%, 11% +/- 3.4%, and 3% +/- 1.6%, respectively, after treatment with control medium and 71% +/- 5.7%, 22% +/- 3.5%, and 7% +/- 2.5%, respectively, after treatment with lecithin. The same effect of lecithin was observed in the 10 sperm samples from subfertile men. The mean +/- SE numbers of sperm that bound to hemizonae after treatment with control medium or lecithin were 116 +/- 32.4 and 176 +/- 29.6, respectively. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the shift in patterns II and III and the enhancement of sperm binding after lecithin treatment (r = 0.44 and 0.6, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Lecithin shifts the expression of mannose-ligand receptors to the capacitated and acrosoine-reacted patterns and enhances the binding capacity of the sperm cells.
Gamzu
R
R
Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. iftsof@tasmc.health.gov.il
Yogev
L
L
Kleiman
S
S
Botchan
A
A
Hauser
R
R
Lessing
J B
JB
Paz
G
G
Yavetz
H
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism*
D037102:Lectins; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008081:Liposomes; D000090323:Mannose Receptor; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface