Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on reproductive biology and medicine

ra0001p205 | (1) | WCRB2014

The impact of oxidative stress on chaperone-mediated human sperm–egg interaction

Grace Bromfield Elizabeth , Nixon Brett , Redgrove Kate , Aitken Robert John

Introduction: Defective sperm–egg recognition is recognised as one of the major causes of failed fertilization in IVF programs. Our recent findings have revealed that such defects may be linked to the molecular chaperone, heat shock protein A2 (HSPA2), due to its ability to facilitate the formation of multimeric zona pellucida (ZP)-receptor complexes on the surface of human spermatozoa. This study aimed to examine the impact of oxidative stress on the formation of these Z...

ra0001p211 | (1) | WCRB2014

The role of the molecular chaperone HSPA2 in unexplained failure of IVF

Nixon Brett , Bromfield Elizabeth , Redgrove Kate , Baker Mark A , Aitken Robert John

Introduction: A common defect encountered in the spermatozoa of male infertility patients is an idiopathic failure of sperm–egg recognition. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular basis of this condition.Materials and methods: For the purpose of this study we compared the proteomic profiles of spermatozoa from male infertility patients exhibiting an impaired capacity for sperm–egg recognition with that of sperm from males of pro...