Effects of human oviductal cell coculture on various functional parameters of human spermatozoa.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of human oviductal cells on various sperm functions in vitro.


METHODS
Controlled experimental laboratory study.


METHODS
University gynecology unit.


METHODS
Women undergoing tubal ligation or hysterectomy and men who were visiting our subfertility clinics.


METHODS
Coculture of oviductal cells with human spermatozoa in vitro; sperm functions were determined after coculture.


METHODS
Capacitation, acrosome reaction, zona binding, and oocyte fusion.


RESULTS
Oviductal cells and conditioned medium induced more spermatozoa to capacitate than did control medium. Although there was no difference in the spontaneous acrosome reaction between any of the groups, the coculture group had a lower percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa after calcium ionophore challenge than did the control and conditioned medium groups. Coculture and conditioned medium treatment reduced the number of spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida. The penetration rate and penetration index of the control spermatozoa in the zona-free hamster oocyte penetration test were significantly higher than that of the cocultured or conditioned medium-treated spermatozoa.


CONCLUSIONS
Human oviductal cells promoted capacitation, stabilized the acrosome, and suppressed binding to the zona pellucida and fusion with the oocyte in vitro.
Yao
Y Q
YQ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, China.
Ho
P C
PC
Yeung
W S
WS
D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D006224:Cricetinae; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D015044:Zona Pellucida