Full Length Research Paper

Effect of plasmin and heparin on in vitro ovine sperm-oocyte interaction

Towhidi, A.¹*, Mehrabani Yeganeh, H.¹, Daliri Joupari, M.², Ranjbar, A.¹ and Zhandi, M.¹

¹Department of Animal Science, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 4111, Karaj. Iran.

²Department of Animal and Marine Science, National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: atowhidi@ut.ac.ir.  Tel.: +989121404081.

Fax: +982612246752.

Accepted 20 July, 2009

   Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of plasmin and heparin on in vitro ovine sperm-oocyte interaction. Different concentrations of plasmin (0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml) and heparin (0, 5, 10 IU/ml) were added alone or simultaneously into fertilization medium. After sperm and oocyte co-culture, binding and penetration of sperm to zona pellucida (ZP) were assayed. Treatment with 1 and 10 ng/ml plasmin resulted in higher sperm binding to ZP than those in control. The rates of sperm binding to ZP were increased with highest heparin concentrations (10 IU/ml). Heparin had no effect on penetration rate of sperm to ZP. Simultaneously effects of plasmin and heparin were not significant on penetration rate of sperm to ZP. But, 5 or 10 IU/ml heparin in the present of 1 ng/ml plasmin had higher effect on sperm binding to ZP than that in the other groups. These results suggest that plasmin and heparin (alone/simultaneously) might play a role in events related to fertilization in ovine.      

Key word: Fertilization, binding, zona pellucida, sperm capacitation.