The effect of the follicular fluid on sperm chromatin quality in comparison with conventional media

S. Bahmanpour, M.R. Namavar, T. Talaei-Khozani, Z. Mazaheri

Department of Anatomy, Stem Cell Research Center, and Histomorphometry and Stereology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. bahmans@sums.ac.ir

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• Andrology

BACKGROUND: Follicular fluid (FF) is biological fluid rich in nutrients, growth factors, hormones and may affect the sperm quality. Sperm washing has been done using conventional media in laboratory procedure so far.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the effects of FF on survival and maintenance of chromatin integrity post swim up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each washed semen sample was divided into two parts; the control group was incubated in the media, and the experimental groups incubated in the media containing 10% follicular fluid. Smears were prepared after 20 min, 180 min, 24 hours and no incubation times. Sperm chromatin changes like protamine, histone, DNA denaturation, sperm chromatin stability and motility were evaluated at different times.

RESULTS: Incubation of sperm in the follicular fluid increased sperms with normal histone, normal chromatin protamine and sperm with normal head size (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Administration of follicular fluid into the culture media of the sperms that had been separated by swim up method could improve the sperm quality. Further studies are recommended for understanding the mechanism of the structural change of the sperm chromatin.

 

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