Mouse sperm-egg binding requires a multiplicity of receptor-ligand interactions, including an oviduct-derived, high molecular weight, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-binding glycoprotein that associates with the egg coat at ovulation. Herein, we report the purification and identification of this sperm-binding ligand. WGA-binding, high molecular weight glycoproteins isolated from hormonally primed m...

Spermatozoa are more efficient at supporting normal embryonic development than spermatids, their immature, immediate precursors. This suggests that the sperm acquires the ability to support embryonic development during spermiogenesis (spermatid to sperm maturation). Here, using Xenopus laevis as a model organism, we performed 2-D Fluorescence Difference Gel Electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass sp...

The purpose of this study was to characterize highly enriched human spermatozoa membrane proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis and computer image analysis. Sperm membrane proteins were extracted by detergent solubilization from three different preparations: 1) washed semen cells following centrifugation and three wash steps in Ham's F-10 medium (the standard sperm preparation, which is co...

Motility is an essential characteristic of all flagellated spermatozoa and assessment of this parameter is one criterion for most semen or sperm evaluations. Computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) can be used to measure sperm motility more objectively and accurately than manual methods, provided that analysis techniques are standardized. Previous studies have shown that evaluation of sperm subpop...

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-genomic action of thyroxin on sperm kinetic and its probable use to improve sperm recovery after applying an enrichment method like “swim-up” in comparison with the available one, pentoxifylline. MaterialsAndMethods This is an experimental study. A total of 50 patients were recruited, followed by infertility consultation. Conventional sper...

BACKGROUND Current routine semen preparation techniques do not inclusively target all intrinsic sperm characteristics that may impact the fertilization potential. In order to address these characteristics, several methods have been recently developed and applied to sperm selection. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature describing these advanced sperm selection ...

The presence and role of c-ras proteins were investigated in mature human sperm cells. The v-H-ras monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the c-ras protein, p21, reacted specifically with the acrosomal region of methanol-fixed as well as unfixed-live capacitated and non-capacitated human sperm cell in the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The v-H-ras mAb predominantly recognized c-ras protein o...

BACKGROUND Apoptosis appears to have an essential role in the control of testis germ cell number and Fas expression has been reported in apoptotic spermatocytes and spermatids. We investigated if Fas (CD95) was present on ejaculated human sperm and any relationship between Fas on sperm and the apoptotic marker Syto16. METHODS Semen samples from 77 male partners of infertile couples were evalu...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare standard sperm parameters, lipid peroxidation of sperm plasma membranes, antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, and sperm chromatin integrity in ejaculates from men whose partners have a history of recurrent pregnancy loss and from a control group of men with recent fertility. DESIGN Descriptive study. SETTING Reproduction Program, University of Antioquia,...

Sperm competition favors increases in relative testes mass and production efficiency, and changes in sperm phenotype that result in faster swimming speeds. However, little is known about its effects on traits that contribute to determine the quality of a whole ejaculate (i.e., proportion of motile, viable, morphologically normal and acrosome intact sperm) and that are key determinants of fertil...