The correlation of sperm chromatin decondensation following in vitro exposure to heparin and sperm penetration rates.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation of low-dose heparin-induced decondensation of sperm chromatin with sperm concentration, motility, morphology, membrane hypoosmotic response, ejaculate volume, and the ability of sperm to penetrate zona-free hamster oocytes.


METHODS
Twenty-two donors of known fertility and 105 patients undergoing evaluation at an andrology laboratory were evaluated by standard World Health Organization semen analysis techniques and a modified sperm penetration assay (SPA). An aliquot was also incubated for 60 min and Ham's F10 medium containing 50 USP/ml heparin. The percentage of sperm undergoing chromatin decondensation was evaluated and correlated to SPA rates and semen quality parameters.


RESULTS
No significant correlation was observed between semen parameters and decondensation rates. A nonsignificant (P = 0.11) inverse correlation (P = -0.21) was observed between SPA rates and chromatin decondensation. Significant (P < 0.001) differences were observed in the decondensation rate of donors (3.7 +/- 0.6), patients with normal SPA rates (7.8 +/- 1.5), and patients with decreased SPA rates (21.7 +/- 1.8). The decondensation rates were significantly different (P < 0.01) between patients with a normal SPA rate and patients with a decreased SPA rate.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate a significant inverse relationship between the SPA rate, which has previously been shown to correlate highly with fertilization ability and heparin-induced sperm chromatin decondensation.
Carrell
D T
DT
Division of Urology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Emery
B R
BR
Peterson
C M
CM
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004542:Ejaculation; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D002843:Chromatin; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006493:Heparin