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Apoptosis and necrosis in human ejaculated spermatozoa
Christian Lachaud1, Jan Tesarik, Maria Luisa Cañadas
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Granada, Campus Universitario Fuentenueva, 18701 Granada, Spain.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|March 5, 2004
Summary
Human sperm do not initiate apoptosis in vitro. While sperm motility and viability decrease after 24 hours, markers of programmed cell death (apoptosis) do not increase, suggesting necrosis is the primary cell death pathway.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Cell Biology
- Spermatozoa Research
Background:
- Ejaculated human spermatozoa exhibit features of both apoptosis and necrosis.
- This study investigates the proportion of these two cell death mechanisms in terminally differentiated sperm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the primary mode of cell death in human ejaculated spermatozoa under in vitro conditions.
- To assess the viability and apoptotic markers of sperm after different preparation methods and incubation times.
Main Methods:
- Sperm were prepared using swim-up, density gradient centrifugation, or simple washing.
- Prepared sperm were incubated in vitro for 24 hours.
- Sperm motility, viability, phosphatidylserine externalization (annexin-V binding), and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) were assessed.
Main Results:
- Swim-up yielded the highest recovery of viable, motile, non-apoptotic sperm.
- Sperm motility and viability significantly decreased after 24 hours of incubation.
- No increase in apoptotic markers was observed, despite decreased viability.
Conclusions:
- Healthy human ejaculated spermatozoa do not appear to initiate apoptosis in vitro.
- Necrosis may be the predominant cell death pathway for human sperm under these experimental conditions.