Abstract

PIP: Metabolic changes in human spermatozoa related to capacitation were investigated. Glycolysis, motility, oxygen uptake, survival time, and c hanges in tetracycline-binding capacity were studied in spermatozoa expo sed to the following possible capacitating agents: 1) human cervical mucus, 2) human serum, 3) hydroxalpinx fluid, and 4) follicular cyst fluid. Mucus and serum did not produce marked changes. Hydrosalpinx fluid produced an increase in oxygen uptake in the presence of citrate and succinate while follicular cyst fluid produced modifications that could be related to capacitation such as increase in oxygen uptake, increase in motility, and release of bound tetracycline. Similar changes were seen with cyclic adenosine monophosphate and adenosine triphosphate treatment but not with other related nucleotides. The parameters studied in this work are suggestive of functional capacitation.