BACKGROUND: Human sperm chemotaxis to pre-ovulatory follicular fluid is well established in vitro. However, it is not known whether the female's oocyte-cumulus complex secretes sperm chemoattractants subsequent to ovulation (for enabling sperm chemotaxis within the Fallopian tube) and, if so, which of these cell types--the oocyte or the cumulus oophorus--is the physiological origin of the secreted chemoattractant. METHODS: By employing a directionality-based chemotaxis assay, we examined whether media conditioned with either individual, mature (metaphase II) human oocytes or the surrounding cumulus cells attract human sperm by chemotaxis. RESULTS: We observed sperm chemotaxis to each of these media, suggesting that both the oocyte and the cumulus cells secrete sperm chemoattractants. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that sperm chemoattractants are secreted not only prior to ovulation within the follicle, as earlier studies have demonstrated, but also after oocyte maturation outside the follicle, and that there are two chemoattractant origins: the mature oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells.
BACKGROUND:Human sperm chemotaxis to pre-ovulatory follicular fluid is well established in vitro. However, it is not known whether the female's oocyte-cumulus complex secretes sperm chemoattractants subsequent to ovulation (for enabling sperm chemotaxis within the Fallopian tube) and, if so, which of these cell types--the oocyte or the cumulus oophorus--is the physiological origin of the secreted chemoattractant. METHODS: By employing a directionality-based chemotaxis assay, we examined whether media conditioned with either individual, mature (metaphase II) human oocytes or the surrounding cumulus cells attract human sperm by chemotaxis. RESULTS: We observed sperm chemotaxis to each of these media, suggesting that both the oocyte and the cumulus cells secrete sperm chemoattractants. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that sperm chemoattractants are secreted not only prior to ovulation within the follicle, as earlier studies have demonstrated, but also after oocyte maturation outside the follicle, and that there are two chemoattractant origins: the mature oocyte and the surrounding cumulus cells.
Authors: Cecilia Soledad Blengini; Maria Eugenia Teves; Diego Rafael Uñates; Héctor Alejandro Guidobaldi; Laura Virginia Gatica; Laura Cecilia Giojalas Journal: Asian J Androl Date: 2011-07-18 Impact factor: 3.285
Authors: Thomas Veitinger; Jeffrey R Riffell; Sophie Veitinger; Jaclyn M Nascimento; Annika Triller; Charlie Chandsawangbhuwana; Katlen Schwane; Andreas Geerts; Frank Wunder; Michael W Berns; Eva M Neuhaus; Richard K Zimmer; Marc Spehr; Hanns Hatt Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 2011-03-21 Impact factor: 5.157
Authors: Pedro Caballero-Campo; Mariano G Buffone; Fabian Benencia; José R Conejo-García; Paolo F Rinaudo; George L Gerton Journal: J Cell Physiol Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 6.384