Enhanced recruitment of motile spermatozoa by prostasome inclusion in swim-up medium

Abstract

Prostasomes, which are prostate-derived organelles, were purified from human seminal plasma for inclusion in Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS) medium with or without human serum albumin. These media were used for swim-up experiments and the subsequent analyses of sperm motility parameters at different incubation times. The yield of motile spermatozoa after swim-up in EBSS medium enriched with boiled prostasomes was increased by 32% compared with EBSS containing albumin. Native prostasomes were less active. Combinations of albumin and either prostasomes or boiled prostasomes significantly increased the recovery of motile spermatozoa and also increased the percentage of spermatozoa displaying progressive motility after 1 h of incubation. Media lacking albumin showed lower values regarding progressive motility after 22 h of incubation. A beneficial effect of prostasomes was noted on lateral head displacement and percentage of hyperactive spermatozoa during the first 6 h of incubation. These results suggest that inclusion of prostasomes, especially boiled prostasomes, in swim-up media may improve the recovery of hyperactive motile spermatozoa for up to 6 h in cases of established male factor infertility, and consequently increase the opportunities for fertilization.

Motility Stimulant Effects of Prostasome Inclusion in Swim-Up Medium on Cryopreserved Human Spermatozoa

“…Moreover, swim-up media containing prostasomes significantly increased the recovery of motile spermatozoa and also increased the percentage of spermatozoa displaying progressive motility after 1 h of incubation [4]. Further, a beneficial effect of prostasomes was noted on lateral head displacement and percentage of hyperactive spermatozoa during the first 6 h of incubation [4]. Prostasomes, as presented here, increased dramatically the number of post-thaw motile spermatozoa.…”

“…The positive effect of prostasomes could be prolonged for at least 3 h by inclusion of 5 mmollL of glucose, fructose, or mannose (but not galactose) in the medium; an optimal combination in this regard seemed to be 5 mmol/L glucose plus 2 mmol/L adenine [5]. Moreover, swim-up media containing prostasomes significantly increased the recovery of motile spermatozoa and also increased the percentage of spermatozoa displaying progressive motility after 1 h of incubation [4]. Further, a beneficial effect of prostasomes was noted on lateral head displacement and percentage of hyperactive spermatozoa during the first 6 h of incubation [4].…”

“…These organelles have several biological activities but their physiological finction is still unclear. They promote sperm forward motility [3,5,161, and prostasome inclusion in swim-up medium resulted in an enhanced recruitment of motile spermatozoa [4]. The success of an assisted reproductive technology program using cryopreserved spermatozoa from anonymous donors is limited because of poor recovery of motile spermatozoa from post-thaw samples.…”

Multiple recognition assay reveals prostasomes as promising plasma biomarkers for prostate cancer

“…Proteins present on the surface of prostasomes include aminopeptidase N (CD13) (17,18) and tissue factor (CD142), a cell membraneassociated glycoprotein that serves as a receptor and essential cofactor for factors VII and VIIa of the coagulation cascade (19). The prostasomes seem to act as intercellular messengers between secretory cells of the prostate and sperm cells, transferring molecules propitious for fertilization by influencing, e.g., sperm motility (20) and exerting antibacterial, complement inhibitory, antioxidant, and immunosuppressive activities (21)(22)(23)(24).…”

The Janus-faced nature of prostasomes: their pluripotency favours the normal reproductive process and malignant prostate growth

“…The motility pattern evoked by prostasomes [52][53][54] is bestowed on a successful oocyte fertilization, since motility is needed to penetrate the cervical mucus in the lower female reproductive tract, while, in the upper tract, vigorous beating of the sperm tail is necessary for the penetration of the zona pellucida. Also, the recovery of freeze-thawed and motile spermatozoa was increased, when the swimup medium was supplemented with prostasomes.…”