Human oviductal cells produce a factor(s) that maintains the motility of human spermatozoa in vitro

Fertil Steril. 2000 Mar;73(3):479-86. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00563-4.

Abstract

Objective: To characterize in part the factor(s) in conditioned medium (CM) that maintains sperm motility after human oviductal cell culture.

Design: Controlled, experimental, laboratory study.

Setting: University-based gynecology unit.

Patient(s): 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.

Intervention(s): Spermatozoa were incubated with CM and their motility was evaluated by a computer-aided sperm analysis system.

Main outcome measure(s): Curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, linearity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, beat cross-frequency, and percentage of spermatozoa that exhibited hyperactivation.

Result(s): 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.

Conclusion(s): Human oviductal cells produce a peptide(s) that maintains sperm motility.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / chemistry
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology*
  • Endopeptidase K / chemistry
  • Endopeptidase K / metabolism
  • Fallopian Tubes / cytology*
  • Fallopian Tubes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Weight
  • Sperm Motility / drug effects*
  • Sperm Motility / physiology*
  • Spermatozoa / cytology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Time Factors
  • Trypsin / chemistry
  • Trypsin / metabolism

Substances

  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Trypsin
  • Endopeptidase K