Seminal plasma of men with severe asthenozoospermia contain exosomes that affect spermatozoa motility and capacitation

To characterize in depth and investigate the role of exosomes present in seminal plasma in affecting parameters underlying sperm activity. In vitro experimental study. Research hospital. Normozoospermic, severe asthenozoospermic, and post-vasectomy azoospermic men 18–55 years of age were considered for the study. Seminal plasma was collected and processed to separate spermatozoa and exosomes. None. Exosomes from seminal plasma were isolated and characterized by means of nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy and Western blot. Exosome uptake by spermatozoa was monitored by means of immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. The effect of exosomes on spermatozoa was determined by evaluating progressive motility and capacitation, the latter assessed by means of tyrosine phosphorylation and acrosome reaction. We isolated and characterized exosomes from seminal plasma of normo-, astheno-, and azoospermic patients. They display similar features in terms of shape, size, expression of canonic exosome markers and proteins involved in spermatozoa maturation, and fertilization capacity. After ejaculation, sperm cells are still receptive and are able to take up exosomes in a time- and pH-dependent manner. Exosomes derived from normozoospermic but not from asthenozoospermic individuals improve spermatozoa motility and trigger capacitation. Transfer of cysteine-rich secretory protein 1 from exosomes to spermatozoa may have a role in these phenomena. These findings provide evidence that: 1) sperm can still receive vesicle-derived cargo after ejaculation; 2) sperm motility and ability to undergo capacitation can benefit from exosomal transfer; and 3) semen quality is affected by male tract exosomes. Infección por el virus del papiloma humano de alto riesgo en mujeres y posterior riesgo de infertilidad: estudio de cohorte poblacional Estudiar si la infección por el virus del papiloma humano de alto riesgo (HPV), registrado tanto como un único test positivo como por la persistencia del HPV, aumenta el riesgo de infertilidad por factor femenino en la futura vida reproductiva. Estudio de cohorte poblacional. No aplicable. Una muestra aleatoria simple de 11,088 mujeres (de entre 20-29 años de edad en el momento de inclusión) a las que se realizó un test para el estudio de HPV cervical durante 1991-93 y de nuevo 2 años más tarde. La información sobre el factor femenino de infertilidad se obtuvo a través del Danish Infertility Cohort. Ninguna. El seguimient