scholarly journals Post-copulatory genetic matchmaking: HLA-dependent effects of cervical mucus on human sperm function

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1933) ◽  
pp. 20201682
Author(s):  
Annalaura Jokiniemi ◽  
Martina Magris ◽  
Jarmo Ritari ◽  
Liisa Kuusipalo ◽  
Tuulia Lundgren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Leucocyte Antigen ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Cervical Mucus ◽  
Swimming Velocity ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Sperm Viability ◽  
Genetic Compatibility ◽  
Mating Preferences ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Full Factorial

Several studies have demonstrated that women show pre-copulatory mating preferences for human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-dissimilar men. A fascinating, yet unexplored, possibility is that the ultimate mating bias towards HLA-dissimilar partners could occur after copulation, at the gamete level. Here, we explored this possibility by investigating whether the selection towards HLA-dissimilar partners occurs in the cervical mucus. After combining sperm and cervical mucus from multiple males and females (full factorial design), we found that sperm performance (swimming velocity, hyperactivation, and viability) was strongly influenced by the male–female combination. This indicates that sperm fertilization capability may be dependent on the compatibility between cervical mucus (female) and sperm (male). We also found that sperm viability was associated with partners' HLA dissimilarity, indicating that cervical mucus may selectively facilitate later gamete fusion between immunogenetically compatible partners. Together, these results provide novel insights into the female-mediated sperm selection (cryptic female choice) in humans and indicate that processes occurring after copulation may contribute to the mating bias towards HLA-dissimilar partners. Finally, by showing that sperm performance in cervical mucus is influenced by partners' genetic compatibility, the present findings may promote a deeper understanding of infertility.

The effects in vitro of TNF-α and its antagonist ‘etanercept’ on ejaculated human sperm

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola A. Pascarelli ◽  
Antonella Fioravanti ◽  
Elena Moretti ◽  
Giacomo M. Guidelli ◽  
Lucia Mazzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Dna Integrity ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Sperm Viability ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
The Impact

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is primarily involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis; in addition it possesses pro-inflammatory properties. Anti-TNF-α strategies involve either administration of anti-TNF-α antibody or soluble TNF receptor to mop up circulating TNF-α. Etanercept, a recombinant human TNF-α receptor, was found to be effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The impact of TNF-α inhibitors on human fertility is of notable interest. This in vitro study investigated the effect of different concentrations of TNF-α and etanercept used alone or in combination on sperm viability, motility, mitochondrial function, percentage of apoptosis and chromatin integrity in swim-up selected human spermatozoa. A negative effect of TNF-α (300 and 500 ng mL–1) and etanercept (from 800 µg mL–1 to 2000 µg mL–1) individually on sperm viability, motility, mitochondrial function, percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa and sperm DNA integrity was demonstrated. However, at concentrations of 100 and 200 µg mL–1, etanercept can block, in a significant way, the toxic effects of TNF-α (500 ng mL–1) on studied sperm characteristics. Our results confirm that TNF-α has a detrimental effect on sperm function and suggest, for the first time, that etanercept may counteract the in vitro toxic action of TNF-α. This data appears to be quite promising, although further studies, both in vivo and in vitro, are needed to understand the exact mechanism of action of TNF-α and TNF-α antagonists on sperm function.

Ketamine inhibits human sperm function by Ca2+-related mechanism

2016 ◽  
Vol 478 (1) ◽  
pp. 501-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanqiao He ◽  
Qianxing Zou ◽  
Bingda Li ◽  
Houyang Chen ◽  
Xiaohong Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Sperm ◽  
Sperm Function

scholarly journals Investigation of the association between the presence of cytoplasmic residues on the human sperm midpiece and defective sperm function

Reproduction ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Keating ◽  
C. E. Grundy ◽  
P. S. Fivey ◽  
M. Elliott ◽  
J. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Human Sperm ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Sperm Midpiece

scholarly journals Effects of Trace Metals Levels and Hyaluronic Acid Degrading Enzymes Activities on Human Sperm Function

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 444-451
Author(s):  
Salem Abd El-Hadi Habib ◽  
Elshahate Abo Muslim Toson ◽  
Fahad Mohamed Al-Mutairi ◽  
Adel Ibrahim Al-Alawy ◽  
Imadeldin Elfaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Trace Metals ◽  
Human Sperm ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Enzymes Activities ◽  
Degrading Enzymes

Development of in Vitro Systems for the Diagnosis of Human Sperm Function

1988 ◽  
pp. 99-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Aitken ◽  
D. S. Irvine ◽  
J. S. Clarkson ◽  
D. W. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Human Sperm ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
In Vitro Systems

Applications of a microfabricated device for evaluating sperm function

1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1944-1947 ◽  
Author(s):  
L J Kricka ◽  
O Nozaki ◽  
S Heyner ◽  
W T Garside ◽  
P Wilding
Keyword(s):  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Cervical Mucus ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Feature Size ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Branching Structures ◽  
Mesoscale Structures ◽  
Simultaneous Assessment

Abstract Mesoscale structures (microns dimensions, nL-pL volumes) have been designed and fabricated in silicon for use in various analytical tasks. We studied sperm motility and performed sperm selection in channels (80 microns wide x 20 microns deep), branching structures (40 microns wide x 20 microns deep, eight bifurcations), and channels containing barriers (7 microns feature size). Sperm-cervical mucus and sperm-hyaluronic acid interactions were assessed by using appropriate microchannel-chamber structures filled with either cervical mucus or hyaluronic acid. Simultaneous assessment of the potency of different spermicides (e.g., nonoxynol-9, C13G) and spermicide concentrations was achieved with structures comprising chambers containing spermicide connected via channels to a central chamber into which semen was introduced. Semen was also tested for the presence of sperm-specific antibodies by using microchannels filled with human anti-IgG antibody-coated microbeads.

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