title: Effects of 17beta-oestradiol or oestrous stage-specific cow serum on the ability of bovine oviductal epithelial cell monolayers to prolong the viability of bull spermatozoa.
abstract: The effect of 17beta-oestradiol and oestrous stage-specific cow serum on bovine oviductal epithelial cell monolayers to extend the viability of co-cultured bull spermatozoa was examined. Monolayers of cells from ampullary and isthmic segments were pre-treated with medium containing either oestrous cow serum, luteal-phase cow serum, 1 microg/ml 17beta-oestradiol + foetal bovine serum or foetal bovine serum alone (control) before the addition of motile frozen/thawed spermatozoa. Motility was visually assessed throughout a 48 h co-incubation period, while fertilising ability of spermatozoa was evaluated by adding in vitro matured bovine oocytes. Pre-treatment with 17beta-oestradiol or oestrous cow serum resulted in a higher percentage of motile spermatozoa after 18 h in isthmic and after 36 h in ampullary cultures compared with the control, but pre-treatment did not affect fertilisation rates. Only at 42 h in ampullary cultures was motility higher in luteal serum pre-treated cultures compared to the control. Motility was also assessed in medium conditioned by pre-treated monolayers. Pre-treatment with 17beta-oestradiol enhanced the ability of conditioned medium to prolong motility and medium conditioned with oestrous cow serum was superior to medium conditioned by luteal-phase serum at maintaining motility. In conclusion, the ability of oviductal epithelium to prolong the motility of spermatozoa is enhanced by 17beta-oestradiol.
authors.affiliation: Australian Institute of Tropical Veterinary and Animal Science, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Boquest
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000097:blood*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004958:Estradiol