PURPOSE: In the female genital tract spermatozoa interact with the oviductal secretion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of conditioned media (CM) from cultures of human oviductal tissue, on sperm DNA integrity. The effect of H(2)O(2) on sperm DNA integrity, before and after incubation under capacitating conditions, was also investigated. METHODS: Motile sperm obtained from normozoospermic semen samples were incubated (4 h or 22 h) in the presence or absence of CM and further exposed to H(2)O(2). DNA damage was detected by the comet assay. RESULTS: The CM significantly reduced the DNA damage associated with sperm incubation, and also decreased the effect of H(2)O(2) after 4 h incubation, compared to controls. The H(2)O(2) caused a dose-dependent deleterious effect on sperm DNA integrity both before and following 22 h of capacitation. CONCLUSION: The oviductal tissue CM increased the stabilization of the sperm DNA structure under culture conditions.
PURPOSE: In the female genital tract spermatozoa interact with the oviductal secretion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of conditioned media (CM) from cultures of human oviductal tissue, on sperm DNA integrity. The effect of H(2)O(2) on sperm DNA integrity, before and after incubation under capacitating conditions, was also investigated. METHODS: Motile sperm obtained from normozoospermic semen samples were incubated (4 h or 22 h) in the presence or absence of CM and further exposed to H(2)O(2). DNA damage was detected by the comet assay. RESULTS: The CM significantly reduced the DNA damage associated with sperm incubation, and also decreased the effect of H(2)O(2) after 4 h incubation, compared to controls. The H(2)O(2) caused a dose-dependent deleterious effect on sperm DNA integrity both before and following 22 h of capacitation. CONCLUSION: The oviductal tissue CM increased the stabilization of the sperm DNA structure under culture conditions.