title: Heparin binding sites are present at a higher concentration on sperm of subfertile men than donors of known fertility.
abstract: Heparin sulfate has been shown to both stimulate sperm capacitation and cause decondensation of sperm chromatin. Recent studies have shown that sperm chromatin decondensation following exposure to a low concentration of heparin sulfate is inversely correlated with penetration ability. This study shows that sperm from subfertile patients contain a higher (p < .05) concentration of heparin binding sites than sperm from donors of known fertility. No differences were observed in the binding affinity of 3H-labeled heparin to donor and patient sperm. Binding was specific for sulfated heparin and dextran. FITC-labeled heparin bound to a higher percentage (p < .01) of patient sperm (39.6 +/- 3.1) than donor sperm (12.3 +/- 1.7). A relationship is demonstrated between heparin binding sites and sperm chromatin decondensation following heparin cxposure, both of which are increased in sperm from subfertile men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Carrell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002843:Chromatin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006493:Heparin