THE EFFECT OF PORCINE FOLLICULAR-FLUID ON THE INTERACTION OF BOAR SPERMATOZOA WITH ZONA-FREE HAMSTER OVA

Boar spermatozoa were cocultured with zona-free hamster ova (eggs) to assess the effects of preovulatory porcine follicular fluid (pFF) in the capacitation medium or gamete coculture (fertilization) medium (pFF; 0, 10 or 40% v/v) on subsequent sperm-egg interaction. Increasing pFF concentrations in the capacitation medium resulted in a progressive decrease in the average numbers of sperm attaching to or penetrating each ovum. When pFF was included in the fertilization medium, but not in the capacitation medium, the average numbers of sperm attaching to or penetrating each ovum and the percentage of ova with sperm attached decreased markedly with increasing pFF concentrations. The percentage of ova with greater than five sperm attached decreased from 84% to 13% and 0% with 0%, 10% and 40% pFF, respectively. Sperm attachment was completely inhibited in approximately 50% of the ova cocultured in 40% pFF. The percentage of ova penetrated by greater than five sperm decreased from 82% to 21% and 7% with 0%, 10% and 40% pFF, respectively. Preincubation of ova in 40% pFF prior to coculture with sperm also resulted in a reduction in sperm attachment and penetration. These results suggest that pFF contains substance(s) that alter the ability of boar spermatozoa to interact with the hamster ovum plasma membrane in vitro.