HYPERACTIVATION MAY ASSIST HUMAN SPERMATOZOA TO DETACH FROM INTIMATE ASSOCIATION WITH THE ENDOSALPINX

The behaviour of human spermatozoa was observed during incubation with epithelial cells isolated from the isthmic and ampullary sections of human uterine (Fallopian) tubes. During incubation, spermatozoa were o bserved to bind to the epithelial cells of the tube (the endosalpinx), and individual spermatozoa attached and detached at intervals. The ki nematic characteristics of spermatozoa during these behaviour patterns were determined. The results showed that detached spermatozoa typical ly had an increased curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement, accompanied by a decrease in their linearity. Significa ntly (P < 0.01) more of the detaching spermatozoa were hyperactivated than were spermatozoa prior to attachment for both isthmic (35.3 +/- 5 .5 versus 4.8 +/- 3.3%; mean +/- SEM) and ampullary (26.0 +/- 7.0 vers us 2.0 +/- 1.4%) regions. Incubation with epithelial cells from either region produced no differences in any category of sperm behaviour. Fu rthermore, there was no significant difference between regions in the amount of time spermatozoa spent bound (33.6 +/- 12.9 and 20.6 +/- 3.0 s for isthmic and ampullary tissue respectively). These results suppo rt the hypothesis that hyperactivation may assist spermatozoa in break ing connections with epithelial cells.