Effect of plasmin and heparin on in vitro ovine spermoocyte interaction

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of plasmin and heparin on in vitro ovine spermoocyte interaction. Different concentrations of plasmin (0, 1, 10, 100 ng/ml) and heparin (0, 5, 10 IU/ml) were added alone or simultaneously into fertilization medium. After sperm and oocyte co-culture, binding and penetration of sperm to zona pellucida (ZP) were assayed. Treatment with 1 and 10 ng/ml plasmin resulted in higher sperm binding to ZP than those in control. The rates of sperm binding to ZP were increased with highest heparin concentrations (10 IU/ml). Heparin had no effect on penetration rate of sperm to ZP. Simultaneously effects of plasmin and heparin were not significant on penetration rate of sperm to ZP. But, 5 or 10 IU/ml heparin in the present of 1 ng/ml plasmin had higher effect on sperm binding to ZP than that in the other groups. These results suggest that plasmin and heparin (alone/simultaneously) might play a role in events related to fertilization in ovine