[Follicular fluid from patients with endometriosis decreases the binding of human sperm to zona pellucida in hemizona assay].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of follicular fluid (FF) from women with endometriosis and tubal factor on sperm binding to zona pellucida under hemizona assay(HZA).


METHODS
Follicular fluid was collected at IVF from patients with endometriosis and without endometriosis (tubal factor infertility). The HZA was used to study the effect of FF from patients with endometriosis and tubal factor on sperm binding to zona pellucida using media (EBSS/BSA) as control.


RESULTS
The mean number of sperm binding to zona in endometriosis specimens and tubal factor infertility was significantly fewer than the number treated by culture medium (91 +/- 21 vs 239 +/- 35, P < 0.001; 109 +/- 22 vs 211 +/- 42, P < 0.005). The hemizona index was lower when the incubation was performed with FF from endometriosis patients compared with sperm incubated in FF from tubal factor patients (36 +/- 4 vs 54 +/- 4, P < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The inhibiting effect of FF from endometriosis patients is stronger than those without endometriosis. The follicular fluid of patients with endometriosis could contribute to infertility through impairment of gamete interaction.
Beijing Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 3rd Hospital, Beijing Medical University.
J
J
Qiao
S
S
Yang
Y
Y
Yao
D000328:Adult; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*