Effect of bovine ampullary and isthmic oviductal fluid on motility, acrosome reaction and fertility of bull spermatozoa

Abstract

Motility, acrosome reaction and oocyte fertilizing ability were assessed for bull spermatozoa after incubation in regional (isthmic or ampullary), bovine oviductal fluid, pooled by stage of the oestrous cycle. Oviductal fluids collected daily from isthmic and ampullary cannulae implanted in the same oviduct were divided into pools, representing two oestrous cycle stages, based on daily serum progesterone concentrations. Ejaculated bull spermatozoa were incubated for 0-6 h in each type of oviductal fluid. Incubation in isthmic oviductal fluid collected during the nonluteal stage, including oestrus and ovulation, decreased overall sperm motility (from 71.7% motile spermatozoa to 34.0%) and both path (78 microns s-1 versus 86-89 microns s-1) and progressive (74 microns s-1 versus 83-85 microns s-1) velocities of spermatozoa motion. Spermatozoa incubated in isthmic, non-luteal oviductal fluid had a higher rate and extent of sperm acrosome reaction (213% of control versus 136-161% of control by 2 h incubation) compared with spermatozoa incubated in other oviductal fluid types. However, incubation in nonluteal ampullary fluid increased the number of spermatozoa, which were both acrosome reacted and live, and able to fertilize bovine ova (88.7% fertilized versus 75-81%). Glycosaminoglycan concentrations were similar among types of oviductal fluid (0.77-0.88 mg ml-1). These findings indicate that oviductal fluid differentially affects sperm function, depending on the oviduct region and the stage of the oestrous cycle at which the fluid was obtained.

Induction of Dog Sperm Capacitation by Oviductal Fluid.

“…The OEC is known to secrete substances that support and maintain sperm motility and viability [1,17,21]. Glycosaminoglycans, a group of glycoproteins, in the oviductal fluid are candidates for factors that maintain sperm motility and induce capacitation [2,12,22,28,33]. High percentages of FS-sperm in the oviduct were found to exhibit active HA-like movement, a capacitation phenomenon, in the human [13], sheep [5], pig [35], rabbit [4], hamster [18], and mouse [26].…”

N-Acylethanolamines in human reproductive fluids

“…There are regional differences in composition of fluids within the lumen of bovine and porcine oviducts (Anderson and Killian, 1994;Hunter, 1990). In addition, bovine isthmic and ampullary fluids produce different effects on motility, acrosome reaction, zona binding, and fertility of bull sperm (Grippo et al, 1995;Topper et al, 1999).…”

Heat-shock protein A8 restores sperm membrane integrity by increasing plasma membrane fluidity

“…The oviductal epithelium and its secretions influence a number of sperm characteristics, the most notable of which are viability, motility, and capacitation (Grippo et al 1995, Fazeli et al 2003. These characteristics combine to enable spermatozoa to fertilize the oocyte under optimal conditions.…”