Human Reproduction, Vol 12, 1673-1681, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
E Hinsch, AA Ponce, W Hagele, F Hedrich, F Muller-Schlosser, WB Schill and KD Hinsch
Binding of mammalian spermatozoa to the zona pellucida and the induction of
the acrosome reaction are prerequisites for successful oocyte
fertilization. It has been postulated that xenobiotics that are released in
the environment as well as exposure to pharmaceutical medications may be
associated with reproductive problems in men and wildlife. Examining
physiological and non-physiological effects of particular compounds on
sperm functions requires high quality in-vitro test systems. We established
a reliable combined in-vitro test system with bovine gametes and evaluated
if aliquots of pooled post-thaw spermatozoa are suitable for examining
essential sperm functions. Using cryopreserved semen, the PSA-FITC/Hoechst
33258 staining procedure was applicable to evaluate the acrosomal status
and cell viability. In the bovine hemizona assay, hemizona indices revealed
no differences between cryopreserved and fresh semen. Treatment of
post-thaw bovine spermatozoa with progesterone (1 microM or bovine
follicular fluid (20%) induced the acrosome reaction from 12% (untreated
spermatozoa) to 25% (P < 0.001) and to 22% [corrected] (P < 0.01),
respectively. Incubation of both compounds (1 microM progesterone and 20%
follicular fluid) raised the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa to
30% (P < 0001). Our results demonstrate that cryopreserved semen can be
integrated into an in-vitro screening model for reproductive toxicology
testing. Pooled, cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa will thus permit
reproducible experiments for clinical and basic science purposes and may
also be applicable for the human system.
ARTICLES
A new combined in-vitro test model for the identification of substances affecting essential sperm functions [published erratum appears in Hum Reprod 1997 Nov;12(11):2580]
Center of Dermatology and Andrology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany.
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