Reproductive and Developmental Medicine (Jan 2017)

Effects of cryopreservation on human sperm glycocalyx

  • Yan-Cheng Wu,
  • Ai-Jie Xin,
  • Hui Lu,
  • Hua Diao,
  • Li Cheng,
  • Yi-Hua Gu,
  • Bin Wu,
  • Sheng-Ce Tao,
  • Zheng Li,
  • Hui-Juan Shi,
  • Yong-Lian Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/2096-2924.224914
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 4
pp. 233 – 238

Abstract

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Background: To study the effects of cryopreservation on human sperm glycocalyx. Methods: The lectin binding profilings of sperm after freeze-thaw were compared by lectin microarray. Results: CryoSperm™ and direct fumigation were confirmed to be the optimized cryoprotectant and method by comparing the sperm recovery rate. In 91 lectins, 33 lectins were significantly changed after sperm cryopreservation. Among them, 9 lectins greatly decreased and 24 lectins mainly increased. The binding signals of MAA, PSA, ABA, and AIA were verified by FACS, and the results were consistent with that of lectin microarray. Conclusions: Sperm glycocalyx had significant changes after cryopreservation. The sialic acid, playing an important role in protecting sperm, was greatly lost, which exposed the inner carbohydrates. Thus, the glycocalyx damage due to the cryopreservation might be one of the reasons for low sperm fertility.

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