To evaluate the effect of spermatozoa culture on glycosidase activity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in human, the spermatozoa were treated experimentally and assayed for activities of α-L-fucosidase, α-D-mannosidase, β-D-galactosidase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (β-GlcNAc’ase). The β-GlcNAc’ase activity was at least two-folds higher than other glycosidases regardless of spermatozoa incubation (p<0.05). The spermatozoa motility was decreased with incubation periods, but no effects by different glycosidases on the changes of spermatozoa motility during the various periods of incubation. In all glycosidases, the spermatozoa-zona binding rates in spermatozoa without incubation were higher than in spermatozoa incubated for 2 h (p<0.05). β-GlcNAc’ase is present mainly in the plasma membrane of spermatozoa frozen-thawed in human. It was also shown that the glycosidase activity was increased in all glycosidases in spite of lower sperm-zona binding by spermatozoa incubation.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS    Semen Collection and Preparation    Treatment of Spermatozoa for Glycosidase Analyses    Measurement of Glycosidase Activity    Chlortetracycline (CTC) Assessment of Spermatozoa    Spermatozoa Zona-Binding Test    Experimental Design   RESULTS   DISCUSSION   ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   REFERENCES

• Chae-Sik Lee(College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Saewha Women’s Clinic)
• Sang-Chan Lee(Saewha Women’s Clinic)
• Ji-Eun Lee(College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University)
• Hee-Tae Cheong(College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University)
• Boo-Keun Yang(College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University)
• Choon-Keun Park(College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University) Corresponding author