Bovine Mucus Research Articles

Human sperm penetration in bovine cervical mucus clinical studies. II. Use of split ejaculates

Sperm penetration through bovine cervical mucus was determined and correlated with the sperm characteristics in three fractions of the split ejaculate and in the whole ejaculate from 40 men of infertile couples in which a female cause of infertility had been ruled out. Sperm concentration and motility were found to be significantly higher in the first fraction (n = 40) as compared with the rest of the fractions and the whole ejaculate, whereas normal sperm morphology was not significantly different among the various fractions and the whole ejaculate. The bovine mucus penetration (BCMP) test was found to be normal in a significantly high percentage (58%) of samples of the first fraction as compared with the other two fractions (32% and 17%, respectively) and the whole ejaculate (35%) (n = 17). Moreover, in the first fraction of the split ejaculate, the results of the BCMP test were correlated significantly with sperm concentration (P less than 0.01), motility (P less than 0.0001), and morphology (P less than 0.02). The data demonstrate the superiority of the first fraction of the split ejaculate in terms of cervical mucus penetrability and sperm characteristics.

Filtering capacity of bovine cervical mucus towards abnormal forms of human-ejaculated spermatozoa.

The filtration capacity of bovine cervical mucus (BCM), fresh bovine cervical mucus (FBCM) or frozen and thawed bovine mucus (BCMF) was studied, using human-ejaculated spermatozoa in comparison with the properties of human cervical mucus (HCM). Thirty semen specimens of good quality were used in cervical mucus (CM) penetrations, using capillary tubes containing CM of 30 HCM, 77 FBCM and 77 BCMF samples. Spermiocytograms were carried out on semen and cervical mucus at 1st and 3rd centimeter of the capillary tube after one hour of incubation. Smears were stained by Papanicolaou and the patterns of seven forms of sperm cells (normal, tapering, macrocephals, microcephals, pinhead, neck pathology and amorphous cells) were counted on a total of 100 cells in each slide. A clear, highly significant (P less than 0.0001) selection of cells penetrating the CM has been shown, preventing certain abnormal forms from penetrating the CM (macrocephals, neck pathology and amorphous cells) and enabling good penetration of normal sperm forms and moderate penetration of tapering, microcephals and pinhead cells. On the average, a specimen with normal sperm forms of 72% showed a spermiocytogram of 90% normal forms at the 3rd centimeter of migration. The same patterns of filtration were recorded in all the three sources of CM. It is suggested that BCM be used as a filter towards abnormal sperm forms in a highly teratozoospermic ejaculate in order to improve its quality for artificial inseminations.

Sperm penetration into cervical mucus in vitro. III. effect of freezing on estrous bovine cervical mucus

The influence of the storages period on estrous bovine cervical mucus after it was stored in the freezing compartment of the laboratory refrigerator was evaluated by an in vitro sperm penetration test with human spermatozoa, laser light-scattering, and a spinnbarkeit test. Data obtained from the sperm penetration test were analyzed by a mathematical model that correlates the sperm motility with the sperm transport rate and the penetrability of the mucus. The tests showed that estrous bovine cervical mucus can be stored for up to 4 weeks at -12 degrees C without a change in its physical properties. The results of this study strengthen the suggestion that bovine mucus could be employed as a substitute for human cervical mucus.

Evaluation of male infertility with an in vitro cervical mucus penetration test

The use of an in vitro bovine cervical mucus penetration test (CMPT) provides unique data for fertility assessment. Flat capillary tubes were filled, kept frozen until use, exposed to a subsample of semen for 90 minutes, and microscopically evaluated. Adequate penetration was based on results of semen specimens from donors used for artificial insemination. of 161 patients being evaluated for infertility, 37% had semen that penetrated the CMPT inadequately. Of the patients with inadequate penetration, 70% had sperm densities of greater than 21 x 10(6)/ml, and 62% had over 50% motility. Thus neither evaluation of count nor motility provided the same information as the CMPT. Human spermatozoa had a similar swimming pattern in human and bovine mucus. Spermatozoa that exhibited poor in vitro penetration of human mucus also failed to penetrate bovine mucus. Comparison of the CMPT with postcoital tests of 42 couples revealed a good correlation. When the incidence of pregnancy for individuals with adequate and inadequate penetration was compared, more individuals with a good CMPT caused a pregnancy. It appears that the CMPT, an easy office test, allows greater discrimination of sperm function than semen analysis alone and is a useful tool for the diagnosis and management of infertility.

Bovine Mucus Penetration Test: An Assay for Fresh and Cryopreserved Human Spermatozoa

Bovine Mucus Penetration Test: An Assay for Fresh and Cryopreserved Human Spermatozoa

Sperm Penetration into Cervical Mucus In Vitro. II. Human Spermatozoa in Bovine Mucus

Human spermatozoa pentrate estrous bovine cervical mucus readily in vitro and maintain good motility and viability for a number of hours. They show pronounced unidirectional motion in mucus that has been aligned linearly. Data from tube preparations indicate that human spermatozoa from a given ejaculate travel more rapidly in estrous bovine mucus than in human midcyle mucus. They are prevented from penetrating luteal phase bovine mucus. The results are discussed in relation to a model of the molecular structure of cervical mucus, derived from laser light-scattering spectroscopy. In addition, it is suggested that bovine cervical mucus could be developed as a possible substitute for human cervical mucus in cases of infertility due to deficient endogenous mucus.

Vitamin A: occurrence and distribution in fractionated mucus.

AbstractVitamin A was found in human and bovine mucus, principally as retinyl esters, and was traced to a fraction containing the mucus globule membrane, which was obtained by differential centrifugation of dissolved mucus. This fraction has not been isolated before.