In the mouse, considerable evidence indicates that initial sperm binding to the zona pellucida (ZP) is mediated by ZP3. In addition, this same glycoprotein is also responsible for inducing the acrosome reaction (AR). Whereas the O-linked oligosaccharides of ZP3 appear to mediate sperm-ZP binding, the portion of ZP3 bearing AR activity has not been defined. To try to understand the bifunctional ...

Sperm examinations may be useful in both clinical and research settings, for investigating male fertility status as well as monitoring spermatogenesis during and following male fertility regulation and other interventions. Among the possible causes of male infertility, defects of sperm morphology represent an important factor that may explain decreased fertilizing potential of sperm. The limits...

Objective: To compare two suites of culture media (one with HSA and one protein-free (PF) supplemented with methylcellulose) for washing human sperm in IVF. Methods: Semen samples (n = 41) underwent parallel density gradient preparation using PF or HSA-supplemented culture medium and subsequent yield, survival, morphology and motility were compared. Results: The PF medium resulted in a signific...

BACKGROUND Sperm cell death appears to be a cause of male infertility. The objective of this study was to determine the most reliable method for the evaluation of sperm quality in semen samples during sperm preparation for IVF. METHODS Conventional analysis of semen samples was compared with several cytofluorometric methods detecting death-associated changes. Neat semen from infertile patient...

introduction: during spermiogendsis, sperm chromatin histones are replaced by protamine. after fertilization, the sprem nucleus is decondenced by glutathione (gsh). in this survey, we study the effect of various concentrations of gsh on human in vitro sperm decondensation. material and methods: after preparation and analysis of semen samples, sperm pellet was washed by ham's f-10 medium twice a...

objective: to evaluate the effect of honey supplemented to cryoprotectant medium on post-thaw sperm motility, concentration, morphology and agglutination. materials and methods: thirty semen samples were collected from 30 infertile patients. after assessment of semen analysis, semen samples were divided into 3 aliquots (0.7ml for each) and mixed with 1 ml of cryopreservation solution (g1, contr...

BACKGROUND Infertility being a burning issue, the male itself contributes about 40% as a cause, as evident by statistical data. However, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has emerged as a powerful tool in the management of infertility. Sperm preparation techniques govern the selection procedure to separate functional spermatozoa which can then be used in IUI, IVF, and ART and for cryoprese...

Cholesterol is an essential component of the mammalian plasma membrane because it promotes membrane stability without comprising membrane fluidity. Given this important cellular role, cholesterol levels are tightly controlled at multiple levels. It has been clearly shown that cholesterol redistribution and depletion from the sperm membrane is a key part of the spermatozoon's preparation for fer...