Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on sperm motility and survival

Iyibozkurt, Ahmet Cem; Balcik, Pelin; Bulgurcuoglu, Sibel; Arslan, Burcu Kardaş; Attar, Rükset; Attar, Erkut

doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.09.019

« Previous Next »Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Volume 19, Issue 6 , Pages 784-788, December 2009

Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor on sperm motility and survival

Ahmet Cem Iyibozkurt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Correspondence:
Pelin Balcik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Sibel Bulgurcuoglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Burcu Kardaş Arslan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Rükset Attar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yeditepe Medical Faculty, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkey
Erkut Attar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

Received 19 August 2008; received in revised form 20 February 2009; accepted 24 June 2009. published online 02 August 2010.

Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors are present in both male and female reproductive systems. In this experimental study, the effect of different concentrations of VEGF on sperm motility and survival in vitro was investigated. Human spermatozoa, collected from voluntary, proven fertile donors, were incubated in sperm washing medium containing different concentrations of VEGF (5, 10, 15, 20ng/ml) for 24h in a university reproductive endocrinology laboratory setting. Assessment of VEGF action on sperm motion characteristics was evaluated using a computer-assisted semen analyser. Sperm survival was determined by hypo-osmotic swelling and eosin-Y dye tests. VEGF had a positive effect on some parameters of sperm motility in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximal effect was observed at a concentration of 15ng/ml; motility, progression, straight-line velocity and curvilinear velocity of VEGF-exposed spermatozoa were significantly increased (P<0.05) at this concentration. However, sperm viability was not prolonged at any concentration of VEGF as shown by hypo-osmotic swelling and eosin-Y dye tests. VEGF may increase some sperm motility parameters, but not survival, in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro.

Keywords: CASA, Fallopian tube, infertility, male factor, spermatozoa, VEGF

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Dr A Cem Iyibozkurt is currently working as a specialist and a fellow in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey. After qualifying as MD at Cerrahpasa Medical School, Istanbul University he completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Istanbul University in 2004. His thesis was on the comparative effect of selective COX-2 blockers and aspirin on three-dimensional cell cultures from endometriosis, endometrium and endometrial cancer. His special interests are gynaecologic cancer, endometriosis and cell cultures. Dr A Cem Iyibozkurt