Sperm selection capacity of the human zona pellucida
- 1 December 1991
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Reproduction and Development
- Vol. 30 (4), 346-352
- https://doi.org/10.1002/mrd.1080300409
Abstract
Previous hemizona assay (HZA) results have illustrated a positive and significant correlation between the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa in the semen and the number of spermatozoa tightly bound to the zona pellucida. The present study was designed to evaluate the morphologic features using strict criteria of spermatozoa tightly bound to the zona pellucida. Semen samples of 4 normozoospermic and 11 teratozo‐ospermic men were used to compare the percentage of normal spermatozoa in the semen with that found (1) after swim‐up separation and (2) bound to the zona under HZA conditions. The mean (± SEM) % normal forms for normozoospermic men in semen, after swim‐up and zona‐bound spermatozoa were 21.5 ± 1.6, 27.5 ± 2.9, and 44.8 ± 3.4, respectively. A significantly higher % of normal forms were found among zona‐bound sperm compared to swim‐up forms (p = 0.02) and seminal sperm (p = 0.02). The mean % of normal sperm forms present in semen, after swim‐up and zona pellucida‐binding for teratozoospermic men, were 3.7 ± 0.9, 5.8 ± 1.6 and 15.6 ± 3.1, respectively. Significant differences existed between the % of normal sperm forms found in the swim‐up and zona‐bound spermatozoa (P = P = <0.0003, respectively) compared to the original ejaculates. Results indicate that a selective process against abnormal spermatozoa occurs at the site of the zona pellucida. Spermatozoa classified as normal or slightly abnormal are selectively bound to the zona in favor of abnormal (bizarre) spermatozoa; particularly those sperm cells with acrosomal abnormalities are either actively excluded or simply cannot bind to the zona or do it with a low efficiency due to inherent defects. This newly identified human zona property of sperm selectivity points out another potential use of the HZA, i.e., selection of sperm to be used in assisted fertilization.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Standards for investigation of human semen Untersuchungsstandards für das menschliche Sperma La standardisation de l'analyse du sperme humainAndrologia, 2009
- The hemizona assay (HZA): A predictor of human sperm fertilizing potential in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatmentJournal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 1989
- Binding of morphologically abnormal sperm to mouse egg zonae pellucidae in vitroGamete Research, 1987
- Effect of oocyte quality and sperm characteristics on the number of spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida of human oocytes inseminated in vitroJournal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 1987
- Impaired ability of human spermatozoa to penetrate zona‐free hamster oocytes: Is a postacrosomal sheath anomaly involved?Gamete Research, 1987
- Analysis of human spermatozoa before and after processing for in vitro fertilizationJournal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 1985
- Differences in the Movement of Morphologically Normal and Abnormal Human Seminal SpermatozoaBiology of Reproduction, 1982
- Morphological selection of human spermatozoa in vivo and in vitroReproduction, 1982
- A New Procedure for Staining Vaginal SmearsScience, 1942