FOLLICULAR-FLUID AND HUMAN GRANULOSA-CELL CULTURES - INFLUENCE ON SPERM KINETIC-PARAMETERS, HYPERACTIVATION, AND ACROSOME REACTION

Objective: To evaluate the influence of human granulosa cell (GC) cult ures and follicular fluid (FF) on sperm kinetic parameters, hyperactiv ation, and the acrosome reaction compared with the influence of human tubal fluid (HTF) and Ham's F-10 medium. Design: Sperm kinetic paramet ers, hyperactivation, and the acrosome reaction were evaluated after 6 hours of incubation in HTF, Ham's F-10 medium, FF, and GC cultures. S etting: Infertility and In Vitro Fertilization Centre, Reproductive En docrinology Unit, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Patient(s): Sixteen normal semen samples. Intervention(s): Sperm kinetic paramete rs and hyperactivation were analyzed using an automated videomicrograp hy system, the acrosome reaction was performed using a triple-stain te chnique, and progesterone and 17OH-progesterone levels were measured w ith the use of commercially available kits. Main Outcome Measure(s): S perm kinetic parameters, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction. Result(s) : The percentage of-motile sperm, the mean curvilinear velocity, and t he mean of the maximum amplitude of lateral head movement were increas ed significantly after 6 hours of incubation in FF or GC cultures comp ared with incubation in HTF or Ham's F-10 medium, whereas the mean lin earity was decreased significantly. Follicular fluid and GC cultures s ignificantly increased hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction compa red with the values obtained using HTF and Ham's F-10 medium. Progeste rone and 17OH-progesterone levels were increased significantly after i ncubation in FF and GC cultures compared with HTF and Ham's F-10 mediu m. Conclusion(s): Follicular fluid and GC cultures increase sperm moti lity parameters, hyperactivation, and the acrosome reaction. This effe ct may be related to GC detoxification of the microenvironement of the microenvironement or GC secretion of peptides, glycoproteins, growth factors (insulin-like growth factors 1 and 2), or steroids (progestero ne and 17OH-progesterone). (C) 1998 by American Society for Reproducti ve Medicine.