Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays a prominent role in various aspects of reproductive biology and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). This review describes the multifaceted influence of HA, ranging from primordial germ cell migration, ovarian follicle development, and ovulation in females to sperm structure, physiology, motility, and capacitation in males. In addition, HA also plays an important role in fertilization and promotes embryo implantation by mediating cellular adhesion and communication within the uterus. Against this physiological background, the review examines the current applications of HA in the context of ART. In addition, the article addresses the emerging field of reproductive tissue engineering, where HA-based hydrogels offer promising perspectives as they can support the development of mature oocytes and spermatogenesis in vitro. Overall, this review highlights the integral role of HA in the intricate mechanisms of reproductive biology and its growing importance for improving ART outcomes and the field of tissue engineering of the reproductive system.
Keywords: assisted reproductive technologies; hyaluronic acid; ovarian tissue engineering; reproductive biomedicine; sperm selection.
© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Biology published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.