Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct
Abstract During transport through the oviduct, sperm interact with epithelial cells by attaching to specific glycans, a mechanism believed to select sperm and prolong their viability. An in vitro model of sperm-oviduct interactions was developed, consisting of a glass surface (either a slide or a co...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88986-2 |
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| author | Sandra Soto-Heras Larissa J. Volz Nicolai Bovin David J. Miller |
| author_facet | Sandra Soto-Heras Larissa J. Volz Nicolai Bovin David J. Miller |
| author_sort | Sandra Soto-Heras |
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| description | Abstract During transport through the oviduct, sperm interact with epithelial cells by attaching to specific glycans, a mechanism believed to select sperm and prolong their viability. An in vitro model of sperm-oviduct interactions was developed, consisting of a glass surface (either a slide or a coverslip) to which an oviduct glycan (sulfated Lewis X trisaccharide; suLeX) is coupled. The ability of porcine sperm to attach to suLeX-surfaces and detach in response to progesterone and mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) was validated. The suLeX-coverslip was adapted for in vitro fertilization (IVF), termed glycan-IVF, by allowing porcine sperm to first bind suLeX before transferring mature COCs. The glycan-IVF method produced a percentage of fertilized oocytes comparable to that of conventional IVF (75.1 vs. 72.0%). Finally, the ability of the suLeX-coverslip to maintain sperm fertilizing ability over time was assessed. After 24 h of incubation, fertilization by sperm bound to the suLeX-coverslip was sustained, compared to sperm with unmodified coverslips (12.0 vs. 1.0%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of polyspermic zygotes was reduced in the suLeX-coverslip method (17.7 vs. 41.3%, p < 0.05). This study validated an in vitro model for studying sperm-oviduct interactions, with potential applications in assisted reproductive technologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e4b43f68935c41a88ea5b867d7206737 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e4b43f68935c41a88ea5b867d72067372025-02-09T12:36:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-88986-2Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviductSandra Soto-Heras0Larissa J. Volz1Nicolai Bovin2David J. Miller3Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignDepartment of Animal Sciences, Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignShemyakin Institute of Bioorganic ChemistryDepartment of Animal Sciences, Institute of Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignAbstract During transport through the oviduct, sperm interact with epithelial cells by attaching to specific glycans, a mechanism believed to select sperm and prolong their viability. An in vitro model of sperm-oviduct interactions was developed, consisting of a glass surface (either a slide or a coverslip) to which an oviduct glycan (sulfated Lewis X trisaccharide; suLeX) is coupled. The ability of porcine sperm to attach to suLeX-surfaces and detach in response to progesterone and mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) was validated. The suLeX-coverslip was adapted for in vitro fertilization (IVF), termed glycan-IVF, by allowing porcine sperm to first bind suLeX before transferring mature COCs. The glycan-IVF method produced a percentage of fertilized oocytes comparable to that of conventional IVF (75.1 vs. 72.0%). Finally, the ability of the suLeX-coverslip to maintain sperm fertilizing ability over time was assessed. After 24 h of incubation, fertilization by sperm bound to the suLeX-coverslip was sustained, compared to sperm with unmodified coverslips (12.0 vs. 1.0%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of polyspermic zygotes was reduced in the suLeX-coverslip method (17.7 vs. 41.3%, p < 0.05). This study validated an in vitro model for studying sperm-oviduct interactions, with potential applications in assisted reproductive technologies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88986-2OviductLewis XOocyteIVFPolyspermyFertilization |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Soto-Heras Larissa J. Volz Nicolai Bovin David J. Miller Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct Scientific Reports Oviduct Lewis X Oocyte IVF Polyspermy Fertilization |
| title | Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct |
| title_full | Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct |
| title_fullStr | Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct |
| title_full_unstemmed | Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct |
| title_short | Porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct |
| title_sort | porcine sperm bind to an oviduct glycan coupled to glass surfaces as a model of sperm interaction with the oviduct |
| topic | Oviduct Lewis X Oocyte IVF Polyspermy Fertilization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88986-2 |
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