ANALYSIS OF HIDROGEL SURFACES FOR SPERM SELECTION IN CATTLE

LIAUDAT, ANA C.; BLOIS, DAMIAN; CAPELLA, VIRGINIA; MORILLA, GRICELDA; ALUSTIZA, FABRISIO; FILI, ALEJANDRO; FORCATO, DIEGO; RIVAROLA, CLAUDIA; BARBERO, CESAR; RODRIGUEZ, NANCY; BOSCH, PABLO

Tafí del Valle, Tucumán

Congreso; XXXIII Jornadas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2016

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

Fertility failures attributed to male significantly contribute to low reproductive efficiency. In vivo selection of a subpopulation of sperm with better features to fertilize is regulated by the female reproductive tract. Most assisted fertilization techniques obviate natural sperm selection processes, explaining partially the low efficiency of these techniques. The aim of this research was to develop new polymeric biomaterials that serve as support and substrate for bovine sperm selection with better fertilizing capacity. Polymeric hydrogel surfaces with positive, negative or neutral net charges were synthesized. Sperm-surface interaction was analyzed by phase contrast microscopy and motility of the adhered sperm observed. Results indicated that a greater number of sperm cells attached to positively charged hydrogels. Sperm binding to hydrogels occurred mainly through the equatorial region and cells maintained good motility. These preliminary results indicate that the polymer surfaces could be used to select high-quality sperm for use in assisted fertilization techniques.