SPERM FUNCTIONAL-CHANGES AND FERTILIZATION IN-VITRO IN COCULTURE WITHHUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of human skin fibrob last monolayers on human sperm function and fertilization in vitro. Sp erm function was evaluated using the hamster oocyte penetration assay (HOPA) and zona binding assay (ZBA) in medium alone and in co-culture with human skin fibroblast monolayers and suspensions. The ZBA was als o studied in fibroblast conditioned medium and in bovine oviduct cell monolayers and suspensions, Fertilization was measured both in in-vitr o fertilization (IVF) couples with a normal semen analysis (first stud y; randomized) and in IVF couples with subnormal semen analysis (secon d study; each patient served as its own control). The HOPA results wer e not significantly different with or without fibroblasts. In all co-c ulture situations and in conditioned medium the ZBA scored significant ly lower than medium alone. No significant differences with respect to IVF were observed between the co-culture and the control group in eit her study. The mean fertilization rate per patient was similar to 60% in the group with normal semen analysis and similar to 25% in the grou p with abnormal semen analysis. From this study we conclude that altho ugh co-culture with human skin fibroblasts and epithelial cells influe nces the results of some sperm function tests, it does not influence f ertilization in vitro.