PMID: 8580665Oct 1, 1995Paper

Influence of elevated pH levels on structural and functional characteristics of the human zona pellucida: functional morphological aspects

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
R HenkelD R Franken

Abstract

A total of 86 fresh and salt-stored immature human oocytes derived from postmortem ovarian tissue were used for this study. Oocytes were randomly incubated either in synthetic human tubal fluid medium (untreated zonae) or in a chemically defined medium (treated zonae). Sperm binding experiments using hemizona assay conditions exhibited a 10-fold increased binding of sperm to treated compared to untreated oocytes (272.7 +/- 43 versus 24.3 +/- 15 sperm bound, respectively; P < 0.0001). pH recordings during incubation showed elevated pH levels of 8.1 compared to pH 7.2 among treated and untreated zonae, respectively. Ultrastructural examination showed a spongy appearance of the surface of treated zonae, whereas untreated zonae appeared compact with smooth surface. The marked increase in sperm binding among treated zonae, together with the ultrastructural findings, suggest that the altered zona surface enhances sperm binding. The physiological maturational process of the zona pellucida might be manipulated in vitro, thus increasing sperm binding to the zona.

References

Jan 1, 1988·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·L L Veeck
Jan 1, 1988·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·A Lopata, P C Leung
Dec 1, 1988·Journal of in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer : IVF·G D HodgenZ Rosenwaks
May 1, 1988·Journal of Reproduction and Fertility·J TesaríkP Trávník
Jan 1, 1982·Journal of Reproduction and Fertility·T NishimotoA Iritani
Jan 10, 1982·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·C E Swenson, B S Dunbar
Jul 1, 1980·Journal of Ultrastructure Research·D M Phillips, R Shalgi

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Citations

May 17, 2006·Microscopy Research and Technique·Giuseppe FamiliariSilvia Correr
May 28, 2020·Andrologia·Cătălina BarbăroșieRalf Henkel

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