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Frequency of defective sperm-zona pellucida interaction in severely teratozoospermic infertile men

De Yi Liu1, H W Gordon Baker

  • 1University of Melbourne Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Reproductive Services, Royal Women's Hospital and Melbourne IVF, Victoria 3035, Australia. dyl@unimelb.edu.au

Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|March 28, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Infertility in men with teratozoospermia is often linked to defective sperm-zona pellucida interaction. This study found 64% of such men experienced issues with sperm binding or the acrosome reaction, impacting fertility.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Andrology
  • Infertility research

Background:

  • Teratozoospermia, characterized by abnormal sperm morphology, is a significant cause of male infertility.
  • Defective sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction is a critical factor that can lead to fertilization failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the frequency of defective sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction in infertile men with teratozoospermia.
  • To assess both sperm-ZP binding and the ZP-induced acrosome reaction (ZPIAR) in this patient group.

Main Methods:

  • Sperm-ZP binding and ZPIAR assays were performed using oocytes from in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.
  • 125 infertile men with <5% normal sperm morphology, sperm count ≥20x10^6/ml, and motility >30% were included.
  • Poor sperm-ZP binding was defined as <1 sperm bound/ZP, and low ZPIAR as ≤10%.

Main Results:

  • 31% (39/125) of teratozoospermic men exhibited poor sperm-ZP binding.
  • Among men without poor ZP binding, 48% (41/86) showed a low ZPIAR.
  • A higher frequency of low ZPIAR (64%) was observed in men with sperm counts between 20-60x10^6/ml.

Conclusions:

  • 64% of teratozoospermic infertile men displayed defective sperm-ZP interactions.
  • 31% had impaired sperm-ZP binding, and 33% had a low ZPIAR.
  • Low ZPIAR was more prevalent in men with moderate sperm counts (20-60x10^6/ml).

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