Abstract
Purpose
Having observed that sperm from the chronically obstructed caput epididymis fertilize poorly in vitro,we investigated the effect of partial zona dissection (PZD) on fertilization in a murine model of unilateral proximal epididymal obstruction. Cleavage rates were compared for zona-intact oocytes and PZD oocytes incubated with sperm from the following epididymal segments: the obstructed caput, the contralateral nonobstructed caput, the contralateral cauda, and a sperm-free preparation to control for parthenogenesis.
Results
Unilateral epididymal obstruction resulted in significantly higher sperm counts in the obstructed caput compared to the nonobstructed caput, although there was no difference in motility. Cleavage rates for ova incubated with sperm from the obstructed caput and the nonobstructed caput were uniformly poor and did not differ significantly from those for the sperm-free controls. Cauda sperm fertilized significantly better than all other sperm groups (P<0.05). Partial zona dissection did not improve cleavage rates in any group.
Conclusion
We conclude that sperm from the chronically obstructed caput epididymis, like sperm from the normal caput, are unable to fertilize ova, and PZD does not enhance this poor fertilizing capacity. Furthermore, the finding that PZD does not improve the fertilizing capacity of the presumably mature cauda sperm in our mouse model suggests that any beneficial effect of PZD may be strain-specific.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bedford JM: Effects of duct ligation on the fertilizing ability of sperm from different regions of the rabbit epididymis. J Exp Zool 1966;166:271–282
Orgebin-Crist MC: Sperm maturation in rabbit epididymis. Nature 1967;216:816–818
Turner TT: On the development and use of alloplastic spermatoceles. Fertil Steril 1988;49:387–395
Mathieu C, Guerin J-F, Cognat M, Lejuene H, Pinatel MC, Lornage J: Motility and fertilizing capacity of epididymal human sperm in normal and pathological cases. Fertil Steril 1992;57:871–876
Temple-Smith PD, Southwick GJ, Yates CA, Trounson AO, DeKretser DM: Human pregnancy by in vitro fertilization (ivf) using sperm aspirated from the epididymis. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1985;2:119–122
Silber SJ, Ord T, Balmaceda J, Patrizio P, Asch RH: Congenital absence of the vas deferens: The fertilizing capacity of human epididymal sperm. N Engl J Med 1990;323:1788–1792
Lanzendorf SE, Maloney MK, Veeck LL, Slusser J, Hodgen GD, Rozenwaks Z: A preclinical evaluation of pronuclear formation by microinjection of human spermatozoa into human oocytes. Fertil Steril 1988;49:835–842
Bongso TA, Sathanthan AH, Wong PC: Human fertilization by microinjection of immotile sperm. Hum Reprod 1989;4:175–179
Malter HE, Cohen J: Partial zona dissection of the human oocyte: A nontraumatic method using micromanipulation to assist zona pellucida penetration. Fertil Steril 1989;51:139–148
Davis NS, Miller KF, Stowe NT, Thomas AJ: Characterization of a mouse model for chronic proximal epididymal obstruction. J Urol 1993;149(4 Suppl):477A
Wazzan WC, Gwatkin RBL, Thomas AJ: Zona drilling enhances fertilization by mouse caput epididymal sperm. Mol Reprod Dev 1990;27:332–336
Bladou F, Grillo JM, Rossi D, Noizet A, Gamerre M, Erny R, Luciani JM, Serment G: Epididymal sperm aspiration in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer in cases of obstructive azoospermia. Hum Reprod 1991;6:1284–1287
Depypere HT, McLaughlin KJ, Seamark RF, Warnes GM, Matthews CD: Comparison of zona cutting and zona drilling as techniques for assisted fertilization in the mouse. J Reprod Fertil 1988;84:205–211
Barlow P, Van Der Zwalnen P, Schoysman R, LeRoy F: Improvement of fertilizing performance by normal and abnormal mouse semen after zona opening of mature oocytes. Mol Reprod Dev 1991;30:385–389
Odawara Y, Lopata A: A zona opening procedure for improving in vitro fertilization at low sperm concentrations: A mouse model. Fertil Steril 1989;51:699–704
Stockton JD, Lipshultz LI, Findley W, Lamb DJ: Enhancement of male fertility through gamete micromanipulation. J Urol 1992;147(4 Suppl):397A
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dewire, D.M., Davis, N.S., Miller, K.F. et al. The effect of partial zona dissection on the fertilizing capacity of chronically obstructed mouse caput epididymal sperm. J Assist Reprod Genet 11, 43–48 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213697
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02213697