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Gómez-Torres MJ, García EM, Guerrero J, Medina S, Izquierdo-Rico MJ, Gil-Izquierdo Á, Orduna J, Savirón M, González-Brusi L, Ten J, Bernabeu R, Avilés M. Metabolites involved in cellular communication among human cumulus-oocyte-complex and sperm during in vitro fertilization. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:123. [PMID: 26553294 PMCID: PMC4640411 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-015-0118-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fertilization is a key physiological process for the preservation of the species. Consequently, different mechanisms affecting the sperm and the oocyte have been developed to ensure a successful fertilization. Thus, sperm acrosome reaction is necessary for the egg coat penetration and sperm-oolema fusion. Several molecules are able to induce the sperm acrosome reaction; however, this process should be produced coordinately in time and in the space to allow the success of fertilization between gametes. The goal of this study was to analyze the metabolites secreted by cumulus-oocyte-complex (COC) to find out new components that could contribute to the induction of the human sperm acrosome reaction and other physiological processes at the time of gamete interaction and fertilization. METHODS For the metabolomic analysis, eighteen aliquots of medium were used in each group, containing: a) only COC before insemination and after 3 h of incubation; b) COC and capacitated spermatozoa after insemination and incubated for 16-20 hours; c) only capacitated sperm after 16-20 h in culture and d) only fertilization medium as control. Six patients undergoing assisted reproduction whose male partners provided normozoospermic samples were included in the study. Seventy-two COC were inseminated. RESULTS The metabolites identified were monoacylglycerol (MAG), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and phytosphingosine (PHS). Analysis by PCR and in silico of the gene expression strongly suggests that the cumulus cells contribute to the formation of the PHS and LPC. CONCLUSIONS LPC and PHS are secreted by cumulus cells during in vitro fertilization and they could be involved in the induction of human acrosome reaction (AR). The identification of new molecules with a paracrine effect on oocytes, cumulus cells and spermatozoa will provide a better understanding of gamete interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Gómez-Torres
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 99, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, Alicante, 03016, Spain.
| | - Eva María García
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 99, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, Alicante, 03016, Spain
- Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Alicante, 03016, Spain
| | - Jaime Guerrero
- Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Alicante, 03016, Spain
| | - Sonia Medina
- Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Food Science and Technology Department, CEBAS-CSIC, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain
| | - María José Izquierdo-Rico
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Espinardo 30100 and IMIB, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ángel Gil-Izquierdo
- Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Food Science and Technology Department, CEBAS-CSIC, Espinardo (Murcia), Spain
| | - Jesús Orduna
- Institute of Materials Science of Aragon, CSIC-University of Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Savirón
- Institute of Materials Science of Aragon, CSIC-University of Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Leopoldo González-Brusi
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Espinardo 30100 and IMIB, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jorge Ten
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, 99, Carretera de San Vicente s/n, Alicante, 03016, Spain
- Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Alicante, 03016, Spain
| | - Rafael Bernabeu
- Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Alicante, 03016, Spain
| | - Manuel Avilés
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Espinardo 30100 and IMIB, Murcia, Spain
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Human sperm bioassay for reprotoxicity testing in embryo culture media: some practical considerations in reducing the assay time. Adv Urol 2010; 2010:136898. [PMID: 21234335 PMCID: PMC3017937 DOI: 10.1155/2010/136898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Revised: 11/03/2010] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human sperm assay (HSA) is a preferred in house quality control and proficiency test (PT) practiced in fertility laboratories. HSA is performed over varying durations, apparently without following set criteria. To better understand the assay time required for reprotoxicity testing in embryo culture media, we compared American-Association-of-Bioanalysts-(AAB-) administered HSA data to our own assay performed using PT samples obtained from AAB. Participating laboratories were required to culture sperm for 48 hours to determine media acceptability. Conclusions drawn from 48- and 24-hour observations were the same, suggesting that HSA could identify reprotoxic media in less time than required by AAB. Our assay revealed that changes in motility grade in adulterated media are significantly different from those in control media. Furthermore, grade changes can be identified earlier than differences in motility loss between samples. Analyzing motility and motility quality together provides a method for establishing an optimal time for HSA.
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Cumulus cells and their extracellular matrix affect the quality of the spermatozoa penetrating the cumulus mass. Fertil Steril 2008; 92:971-978. [PMID: 18930198 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.1760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2008] [Revised: 07/11/2008] [Accepted: 07/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of the cumulus cells and the cumulus matrix in affecting the penetrability, morphology, acrosome reaction, and motility of human spermatozoa penetrating the cumulus oophorus. DESIGN Controlled experimental laboratory study. SETTING University gynecology unit. PATIENT(S) Women undergoing assisted reproduction treatment and men visiting the subfertility clinics. INTERVENTION(S) Human spermatozoa were allowed to penetrate through the cumulus oophorus and cell-depleted cumulus matrix in a capillary, and were treated with cumulus cell extract or hyaluronic acid. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The morphology, acrosomal status, and motility of human spermatozoa were determined. RESULT(S) Fewer spermatozoa could penetrate the fresh cell-depleted matrix compared with intact cumulus oophorus. Spermatozoa that penetrated through the cumulus oophorus had higher percentages of normal morphology and acrosome reaction and had specific motility pattern. These effects were lost or reduced in the cell-depleted matrix that had been stored overnight. Hyaluronic acid, a main component of the cumulus matrix at concentration found in the cumulus oophorus, modulated sperm motility but did not affect spontaneous acrosome reaction. Cumulus cell extract did not affect sperm motility, but induced acrosome reaction. CONCLUSION(S) Both the cumulus matrix and the cumulus cells contribute to the effect of cumulus oophorus on spermatozoa penetrating through it.
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Chiu PCN, Chung MK, Koistinen R, Koistinen H, Seppala M, Ho PC, Ng EHY, Lee KF, Yeung WSB. Cumulus oophorus-associated glycodelin-C displaces sperm-bound glycodelin-A and -F and stimulates spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding. J Biol Chem 2006; 282:5378-88. [PMID: 17192260 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m607482200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa have to swim through the oviduct and the cumulus oophorus before fertilization in vivo. In the oviduct, spermatozoa are exposed to glycodelin-A and -F that inhibit spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding. In this study, we determined whether these glycodelins would inhibit fertilization. The data showed that the spermatozoa without previous exposure to glycodelin-A and -F acquired glycodelin immunoreactivity during their passage through the cumulus oophorus. On the other hand, when glycodelin-A or -F-pretreated spermatozoa were exposed to the cumulus oophorus, the zona pellucida binding inhibitory activity of glycodelin-A and -F was not only removed, but the spermatozoa acquired enhanced zona pellucida binding ability. These actions of the cumulus oophorus were due to the presence of a cumulus isoform of glycodelin, designated as glycodelin-C. The cumulus cells could convert exogenous glycodelin-A and -F to glycodelin-C, which was then released into the surrounding medium. The protein core of glycodelin-C was identical to that in other glycodelin isoforms, as demonstrated by mass spectrum, peptide mapping, and affinity to anti-glycodelin antibody recognizing the protein core of glycodelin. In addition to having a smaller size and a higher isoelectric point, glycodelin-C also had lectin binding properties different from other isoforms. Glycodelin-C stimulated spermatozoazona pellucida binding in a dose-dependent manner, and it effectively displaced sperm-bound glycodelin-A and -F. In conclusion, the cumulus cells transform glycodelin-A and -F to glycodelin-C, which in turn removes the spermatozoazona binding inhibitory glycodelin isoforms and enhances the zona binding capacity of spermatozoa passing through the cumulus oophorus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip C N Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Hossain AM, Barik S, Rizk B, Thorneycroft IH. Assessment of the quality of frozen serum by spectrophotometric analysis and sperm bioassay. ARCHIVES OF ANDROLOGY 1997; 39:119-25. [PMID: 9272228 DOI: 10.3109/01485019708987910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Serum is an integral part of media used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and andrology work. Previous studies showed that the IVF results could benefit if sera were screened for deleterious effects before use. Such screening is impractical when fresh sera are used but may be feasible if the serum is frozen prior to use. This study assessed the impact of freezing on the quality of serum. A total of 158 serum samples, prepared in a university-based andrology-IVF center, were included in the study. The frozen sera were thawed in batches to be used in a series of laboratory experiments. Serum quality was evaluated by spectrophotometric analysis and sperm bioassay under several defined conditions: fresh, frozen, pre- and postfiltration, pre- and postcentrifugation, and the patients' fertility condition. Although all sera were filtered through 0.22-micron filter, more than 10% frozen sera required 0.4- or a combination of 0.8- and 0.4-micron filters before they could be passed through the 0.22-micron filter. Frozen sera that were directly filtrable with a 0.22-micron filter lost 13% turbidity upon filtration. The turbidity of the frozen sera were higher compared to fresh ones as revealed by optical density (OD) and relative light scattering (RLS) spectrophotometry. The freeze/storage-induced spectrophotometric changes did not correlate with the storage time. The centrifugation caused precipitation of sera components. The rate of precipitation of the serum components correlated with the duration of freezing. Spectrophotometric analysis and sperm bioassay did not differentiate the sera of pregnancy-positive and pregnancy-negative subjects. The sperm bioassay failed to detect any biological impact of freezing-induced spectrophotometric changes in the sera, suggesting that the freezing-induced changes did not significantly diminish the serum's capability of supplementing the culture media.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Hossain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Alabama, Mobile 36688, USA
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