Effect of transforming growth factors (TGFα and TGFβ) on human sperm chemotactic migration in vitro

The effect of transforming growth factors (TGFalpha and TGFbeta) on mouse sperm motion chemotactic behavior was examined. In an in vitro model, the number of mouse sperm cells migrating to medium containing TGFalpha in concentration 500 ng/mL were significantly higher than the number migrating to control. This effect was observed after 3 and 5 h of incubation. The presence of 100 ng/mL of TGFalpha and TGFbeta in concentration 100 and 500 ng/mL in incubation fluid did not cause any statistically visible changes on the migration of sperm. Effect of combination of both cytokines was similar to influence purely TGFalpha. These effects were interpreted as chemotaxis but not chemokinesis of sperm induced by influence of this cytokine on membrane receptors. It is suggested that of TGFs contained in follicular fluid plays a direct and important role in the process of mammalian fertilization.