HYPOTAURINE IN SPERMATOZOA AND GENITAL SECRETIONS AND ITS PRODUCTION BY OVIDUCT EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN-VITRO

Taurine and/or hypotaurine are necessary compounds for sperm capacitat ion, fertilization and embryo development, Hypotaurine has a protectiv e role against peroxidative damage, The object of this work was, on th e one hand, to determine the precise amounts of hypotaurine and taurin e in the sperm environment at the moment of fertilization, and on the other hand to evaluate the production of hypotaurine and taurine by ov iduct epithelial cells, Hypotaurine and taurine were quantified in spe rmatozoa and seminal and tubal fluid of various species, and in secret ions by oviduct epithelial cell layers in vitro. Significant amounts o f taurine and hypotaurine were identified, Both compounds were quantif ied in pre-ovulatory follicular fluid, i.e. in one of the fluids prese nt at the site of fertilization, We also observed that hypotaurine and taurine are synthesized and secreted in vitro by oviduct epithelial c ells, We were able to demonstrate that hypotaurine is stable when adde d to an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) culture medium, The effects of th is compound should be more carefully studied in human IVF.