Human oviductal cells produce a factor(s) that maintains the motility of human spermatozoa in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize in part the factor(s) in conditioned medium (CM) that maintains sperm motility after human oviductal cell culture.


METHODS
Controlled, experimental, laboratory study.


METHODS
University-based gynecology unit.


METHODS
Fallopian tubes were obtained from patients who underwent tubal ligation or hysterectomy. Semen with normal sperm parameters was obtained from men who visited subfertility clinics.


METHODS
Spermatozoa were incubated with CM and their motility was evaluated by a computer-aided sperm analysis system.


METHODS
Curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, linearity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, beat cross-frequency, and percentage of spermatozoa that exhibited hyperactivation.


RESULTS
Compared with their baseline motility (0 hour), spermatozoa incubated with CM maintained various motility parameters for a longer period than did control spermatozoa. All the motility parameters of the CM-treated spermatozoa were higher than those of the control spermatozoa at the same time point. This effect of CM was dose-dependent and increased with the duration of incubation. The effect was stable at 56 degrees C but was not observed after 100 degrees C heat treatment. Trypsin, but not proteinase K, abolished the effect. A fraction with a molecular weight of <3 kd in the CM was responsible for the observed effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Human oviductal cells produce a peptide(s) that maintains sperm motility.
Yao
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
Ho
P c
Pc
Yeung
W S
WS
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019286:Endopeptidase K / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014357:Trypsin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D014357:Trypsin; D019286:Endopeptidase K