THE REGULATION OF SPERM MOTILITY BY A NOVEL HYALURONAN RECEPTOR

Objective: To determine if a novel receptor for hyaluronan, termed RHA MM, is responsible for the previously observed increase in sperm locom otion in response to hyaluronan and to assess whether expression of th e RHAMM protein is involved in sperm motility. Design: The RHAMM prote in was localized on human sperm by immunofluorescence of fixed cells, fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) of cell surface phenotype, a nd Western transblot analysis of cell proteins. The effect of monospec ific antibodies on sperm motility was examined using computer-assisted image analysis. Results of motility studies were assessed statistical ly with analysis of variance.