Effects of human hydrosalpinx fluid on in-vitro murine fertilization

Patients with hydrosalpinges show a decrease of both fertility and clinical outcome of IVF and embryo transfer treatment. Several reports have demonst rated the negative effects of hydrosalpinx fluid (HSF) on embryo developmen t and implantation. The aim of this study was to determine whether human HS F, collected from infertile patients, might exhibit a deleterious effect on gametes and fertilization using a murine IVF system. Murine gametes were c o-incubated during IVF until first cleavage with human HSF diluted to 50% f rom four patients (HSF1-4). It was demonstrated that HSF affected fertiliza tion, as determined by the count of the 2-cell embryos. Pre-incubation of s permatozoa with HSF during capacitation significantly lowered the percentag e of 2-cell embryos (P < 0.05), While HSF1-3 had no significant effect on m otility and viability of spermatozoa, HSF4 almost completely affected their survival, In contrast, pre-incubation of ovulated oocytes surrounded by th eir cumulus cells with HSF before IVF did not impede first cleavage. Taken together, these results suggest that HSF has a cytotoxic effect on spermato zoa and/or impairs the fertilization process, probably by altering capacita tion/acrosome reaction and/or ligand(s)receptor(s) interactions. Hydrosalpi nges may be partly associated with sterility through HSF inhibitory effects on fertilization.