291. Potential role of Glycodelin for fertilization success in ART
G. Keck A , N. Reichel A , A. Zimmermann A , I. Trinkaus A , A. Schultz A and W. Distler ATechnical University Dresden, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dresden, Saxony, Germany
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17(9) 123-123 https://doi.org/10.1071/SRB05Abs291
Submitted: 26 July 2005 Accepted: 26 July 2005 Published: 5 September 2005
Abstract
Background: Glycodelin (Gd), a dimeric glycoprotein, appears in the female and male reproductive tract in isoforms like GdA from amniotic fluid and endometrium, GdF from follicular fluid, GdS from seminal plasma and on sperm surface as well. Little is known about the role of Gd in IVF. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of the Gd-amount in supernatants of IVF-cultures to fertilization success. Methods: Employing monoclonal antibody (mAb) M4f8 soluble Gd levels were evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We assayed 107 supernatants after 18 h in-vitro fertilisation of single cultured oocytes (S18) with 100 000 motile spermatozoa derived from 11 couples undergoing conventional IVF procedure. The results have been compared to blanks comprised of sperm suspensions incubated without any oocytes. The Gd-content in S18 were correlated to fertilization success and characterized by PN-scoring 18 h after insemination. Furthermore we evaluated supernatants (n = 21) of oocytes after ICSI. Total protein (TP) of all supernatants was assessed for calculating the Gd/TP-ratio. Results: The soluble Gd values were calculated for the cultures belonging to each couple. The levels of Gd differed interindividually by a wide range from 4.9 up to 69.2 ng/mL (0.1–3.0% Gd/TP) and in the blanks 2.0–59.5 ng/mL (0.1–4.5% Gd/TP) as well. We associated a couple specific Gd level from 10.0–60.0 ng/mL with a high fertilisation rate (FR = 88%). Both a soluble Gd at a lower level in sperm–oocyte suspensions and a S18 > 60.0 ng/mL were accompanied by a decreased FR (25%). The supernatants (n = 21) after ICSI (FR = 14%) were found Gd-free. Conclusions: Gd-amounts in S18 fluctuated both between the different patients and within their individual sperm–egg cultures. Therefore the protein is suggested not being introduced by spermatozoa only but rather by cumulus cell effects. Beside other parameters one of the fertilisation-dependant factors may be the patient-specific Gd concentration in the surrounding medium.
