Effect of hepatocyte growth factor on sperm motility

肝细胞生长因子（HGF）在精浆中大量存在，其受体c-Met在精子上表达。考虑到其运动活性，我们推测HGF可能影响精子的运动能力。将重组肝细胞生长因子加入到洗涤的精子中，并使用计算机辅助精子分析仪分析它们的运动。用ELISA法测定83例不育患者精浆中肝细胞生长因子（HGF）的含量，并与其激素水平和精液参数进行比较。HGF生理浓度（1 ng/mL）在长时间孵育后仍能维持精子的活力，但差异无统计学意义。重组肝细胞生长因子不影响运动的线性或频率，这表明它不会引起精子的过度激活。精浆中HGF的浓度与患者的任何临床参数无关。这些发现与HGF控制精子运动的理论相矛盾。该轴在雄性生殖系统中的主要作用可能是附睾的成熟。

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) exists abundantly in seminal plasma and its receptor, c-Met, is expressed on spermatozoa. Considering its motogenic activity, we speculated that HGF might affect the movement ability of spermatozoa. Recombinant HGF was added to washed spermatozoa and their movement were analyzed using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer. The concentration of HGF in the seminal of infertile patients (n=83) was measured by ELISA, and the data were compared with their hormonal profile and semen parameters. The HGF physiological concentration (1ng/mL) maintained the motility of sperm after a long incubation, though the difference was not statistically significant. Recombinant HGF did not affect the linearity or frequency of movement, which suggested that it does not evoke the hyperactivation of spermatozoa. The concentration of HGF in seminal plasma did not correlate with any clinical parameter of the patients. These findings contradict the theory that HGF controls the movement of sperm. The main role of this axis in the male reproductive system might be maturation in the epididymis.