A FOLLICULAR-FLUID CHONDROITIN SULFATE PROTEOGLYCAN IMPROVES THE RETENTION OF MOTILITY AND VELOCITY OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA

Objective: To examine the effects of two proteoglycans of different st ructure, isolated from human follicular fluid (FF), on the motility of human spermatozoa. Design: Normozoospermic semen samples and their sw im-up sperm fractions were incubated in the presence of 0.4 mg/mL of a larger chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CS-PG) for 0, 3, 7, and 16 h ours. The effects of a smaller heparan-CS-PG and the chondroitin sulfa te side chains of the larger proteoglycan were also investigated in th e same conditions. Sperm motility parameters were analyzed using a com puter-aided sperm analysis system (CASA; Cryo Research Inc., New York, NY) Results: The larger CS-PG caused an immediate increase in sperm l inearity. After 3 and 7 hours, the retention of sperm motility, veloci ty, linearity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement have increas ed by an average of 13% compared with the control samples. After a 16- hour incubation, the retention of the motility properties was improved by approximately 40% (range, 27% to 50%) in the samples containing pr oteoglycan. The effects of the isolated glycosaminoglycan side chains were much lower than those of the intact proteoglycan. The heparan-CS- PG did not affect sperm motility. Conclusion: A CS-PG from FF increase s retention of motility and velocity of human sperm. These physiologic al effects may enhance the fertilizing efficiency of spermatozoa in th e female reproductive tract.