Low physiological levels of prostaglandins E2 and F2 improve human sperm functions

Prostaglandins (PGs) have been reported to be present in the seminal fluid and cervical mucus, affecting different stages of sperm maturation from spermatogenesis to the acrosome reaction. This study assessed the effects of low physiological PGE(2) and PGF(2) concentrations on human sperm motility and on the ability of the spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida (ZP). Human spermatozoa were isolated from seminal samples with normal concentration and motility parameters and incubated with 1M PGE(2), 1M PGF(2) or control solution to determine sperm motility and the ability to bind to human ZP. The effects of both PGs on intracellular calcium levels were determined. Incubation for 2 or 18h with PGE(2) or PGF(2) resulted in a significant (P<0.05) increase in the percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motility. In contrast with PGF(2), PGE(2) alone induced an increase in sperm intracellular calcium levels; however, the percentage of sperm bound to the human ZP was doubled for both PGs. These results indicate that incubation of human spermatozoa with low physiological levels of PGE(2) or PGF(2) increases sperm functions and could improve conditions for assisted reproduction protocols.