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Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 10, 2517-2522, October 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

The expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in the Fallopian tube: SLPI protects the acrosome reaction of sperm from inhibitory effects of elastase

Yukinobu Ota1, Koichiro Shimoya1,4, Qing Zhang1, Akihiro Moriyama2, Rika Chin1, Kumiko Tenma1, Tadashi Kimura3, Masayasu Koyama1, Chihiro Azuma1 and Yuji Murata1

1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita City, Osaka565-0871, 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, Osaka 543-8502 and 3 Department of Gynecology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka 537-8511, Japan

BACKGROUND: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is a protein found in various fluids, including parotid secretions, cervical mucus, seminal plasma and ascites, and is a potent inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase activity. The objective of the study was 2-fold, to evaluate (i) the presence of SLPI in the Fallopian tube, and (ii) the effect of SLPI on the acrosome reaction of sperm. METHODS AND RESULTS: Western blot analysis revealed that SLPI protein was detected as a 12 kDa band in the isthmus, ampulla and infundibulum of the Fallopian tube. Immunohistochemistry using an anti-SLPI polyclonal antibody revealed positive staining of epithelial cells in the Fallopian tube. RT–PCR demonstrated that SLPI transcripts were expressed in the Fallopian tube. To determine the function of SLPI in the Fallopian tube, the effects of SLPI and elastase on the sperm acrosome reaction were examined. SLPI prevented the reduction of the acrosome reaction by elastase in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that SLPI in the Fallopian tube contributes to sperm–oocyte interaction.

Key words: acrosome reaction/Fallopian tube/secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI)

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: shimoya{at}gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp


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