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PubMed1975

An objective method for evaluating Angus and Hereford sperm motility.

Angus and Hereford sperm motility was evaluated by an objective spectrophotometric procedure and by a conventional subjective ranking system. Semen was collected by electroejaculation and divided so that one group contained 6 Angus samples and one group contained 12 Hereford samples. Objective procedures indicated that Angus sperm was twice motile as Hereford sperm in 2.9% sodium citrate. This objective procedure depends on the orientation of sperm in a flowing liquid and then spectrophotometrically measuring the sperm's ability to return to randomness when the flow is stopped. During preparation for freezing with liquid nitrogen, microscopic subjective ranking of sperm motility was carried out. Three conditions were studied subjectively: (I) arrival at the laboratory, (II) pre-freeze, and (III) thawed samples. No significant differences in subjective evaluation of sperm motility was found between conditions or breeds. Preliminary results indicate that this objective procedure can distinguish between the sperm motility in 2.9% sodium citrate from two breeds of cattle. Use of this objective procedure for studies relating to fertilization and artificial insemination is evident and there is no theoretical reason why the procedure can not be used with other species.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Oral carnitine supplementation increases sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men with normal sperm phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase levels.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the role of carnitine supplementation in idiopathic asthenozoospermia and to look for a rationale for its use in asthenozoospermic patients. DESIGN: Blind clinical study. SETTING: Academic. PATIENT(S): Thirty asthenozoospermic patients divided in two groups according to phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) levels. INTERVENTION(S): Placebo for 3 months, then oral L-carnitine (2 g/day) for 3 months; semen samples were collected at baseline, after placebo, after carnitine administration, and again after 3 months with no drugs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Evaluation of seminal parameters and determination of seminal PHGPx levels, measured as rescued activity. RESULT(S): When asthenozoospermic subjects were divided in two groups on the basis of PHGPx levels, we observed an improvement of mean sperm motility only in the group of patients with normal PHGPx levels. CONCLUSION(S): Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase has an important role in male infertility, and carnitine treatment might improve sperm motility in the presence of normal mitochondrial function.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1996

Elevated nitric oxide concentration in the seminal plasma of infertile males: nitric oxide inhibits sperm motility.

PROBLEM: To evaluate the effect of nitric oxide in the seminal plasma on sperm motility. METHOD: Seminal plasma concentrations of NO2-, a stable end product of nitric oxide, of 108 males of infertile couples and 15 proven fertile donors were measured and compared with spermatogram parameters. Motile sperm was incubated with a nitric oxide-generating drug, sodium nitroprusside, for 6 hr in the absence or presence of oxyhemoglobin, an inhibitor of nitric oxide. RESULTS: The NO2- concentration in the seminal plasma was 6.58 +/- 0.5.6 microM in 26 infertile males with leukocytospermia, 5.51 +/- 0.25 microM in 82 infertile males without leukocytospermia, and 3.91 +/- 0.16 microM in 15 controls. There was a significant correlation between the NO2- concentration and sperm motility. Sodium nitroprusside reduced the sperm motility in a dose- and time-dependent manner and its reduction was completely inhibited by the addition of oxyhemoglobin. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that nitric oxide concentration in the seminal plasma of infertile males is elevated and that nitric oxide is an inhibitor of sperm motion.

Cell Survival↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in relation to sperm motility.

The absolute amounts of phospholipid-linked fatty acids of different andrological conditions were analyzed by gas-liquid-chromatography. There was a significant linear correlation between docosahexaenoic acid and the spermatozoal density. Similarly there was a significant correlation between the content of docosahexaenoic acid and the number of motile normal sperm. These findings suggest that the process of lipid peroxidation is probably one of the biochemical causes of the low docosahexaenoic acid content in poorly motile sperm.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sperm wash in three culture media: maximization of motile sperm recovery during swim-up incubation.

Three different culture media commonly used during in vitro gamete manipulations were studied for their efficacy in sperm wash procedure. Highest numbers of motile sperm were recovered at 6 hours following incubation in WT-6 and Ham's F-10 media. However, WT-6 yielded higher motile sperm numbers than Ham's F-10. Swim-up sperm number reached a peak at 3 hours following incubation in BWW. A period of 2 to 6 hours of incubation of sperm pellets overlayed with sperm wash media resulted in highly enriched motile sperm fractions free of dead spermatozoa and seminal debri.

Culture Media↗

PubMed2006

Effects of constant, 9 and 16-h light cycles on sperm quality, semen storage ability and motile sperm subpopulations structure of boar semen.

This study was performed to test the effect that two separate, daily, constant-light regimes of both 9 and 16 h could have on the main parameters of boar-semen quality analysis, as well as on the motile sperm subpopulations structure and the ability of its conservation at 16 degrees C. Results show that both luminous regimes have slight, specific effects on the main parameters of boar-semen quality analysis, as well as on the motile sperm subpopulations structure. Furthermore, the conservation ability at 16 degrees C of boar semen was not significantly different between both photoperiods. When a temporal study was performed, results showed that semen quality and motility parameter changes were stabilized at nearly constant values from the second month of the study to the last month in both luminous regimes, indicating a rapid light-related effect on testicular function. Our results indicate that light regimes oscillating from 9 h daily to 16 h daily are of little importance in the control of boar-semen quality in a farming environment.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence favoring sperm selection over sperm competition in the interaction between human seminal plasma and sperm motility in vitro.

The effect on sperm motility of sperm-sperm and sperm-seminal plasma interactions was studied among homologous and heterologous sperm. There were no significant interactions between sperm in vitro, but it was found that seminal plasmas of different donors have different effects on sperm motility, and different sperm react differently to the same seminal plasma. Sperm showed higher motility in a pure physiological solution than when mixed with seminal plasma, even if the plasma and sperm came from the same donor. Various plasma components are responsible for this modulation of sperm motility. It would appear that large numbers of sperm are adaptive, among other things, because they are involved in sperm selection.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Inhibition of sperm motility does not affect live-dead separation of bull sperm by glass beads.

AIM: This study was designed to explore factors which influence binding of dead versus live sperm to glass filters. METHODS: Multiple semen collections from bulls were used to explore selective filtration of bull sperm as influenced by nonlethal inhibition of sperm motility with fluoride, killing of sperm by quick-freezing, alteration of the glass surface with silicone, and different intervals of sexual rest between semen collections. RESULTS: A comparison of glass spheres 100, 200 and 390 microm in diameter indicated that 200 microm spheres were optimal for selective filtration. Quantitative separation of live from dead sperm was demonstrated with a correlation between the percentage of motile sperm and retention of sperm by the filter of r = -0.87 (P < 0.05). Up to 0.02 mol/L NaFl did not alter the proportion of sperm retained by the filter despite inhibiting sperm motility during filtration, an inhibition which was reversible. Proportions of live-dead sperm, based upon eosin staining, were unaffected by fluoride. Coating the glass spheres with silicone greatly reduced selective filtration. Dead sperm adherence to glass was reduced and resistance to NaFl inhibition was increased by daily ejaculation versus one-week intervals of sexual rest. CONCLUSION: These studies indicate that the adherence of sperm to glass is primarily due to some form of physico-chemical change accompanying death of the sperm cell independent of active sperm motility. This attraction between the sperm plasma membrane and glass is modified by the age of the ejaculated sperm. This information is useful in evaluating different clinical procedures used for sperm separation.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Hormonal evaluation in idiopathic oligozoospermia: correlation with response to clomiphene citrate therapy and sperm motility.

The reported response of sperm count to clomiphene citrate therapy in subfertile males with idiopathic oligozoospermia has been widely variable. The author postulates that this may be due in part to patient heterogeneity that may be reflected in pretreatment hormonal status. Seventeen patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia (mean +/- SE sperm density of 7.3 +/- 1.2 x 10(6) sperm/mL, mean FSH of 5 +/- 0.5 IU/L) were studied. Pretreatment basal LH, FSH, testosterone, free T4, and prolactin levels as well as LHRH-stimulated LH and FSH levels were examined in relation to pretreatment semen parameters and percent change in sperm count after a mean of 7.2 +/- 0.6 months of clomiphene citrate therapy. The percentage of motile sperm correlated with basal LH (r = .59, p = .02, n = 16) and free T4 levels (r = .62, p = .02, n = 13). Clomiphene citrate therapy was associated with a significant increase in total sperm count (mean percent change 261 +/- 117, p = .02) and in total motile sperm count (mean percent change 370 +/- 216, p = .03). Percent change in total sperm counts and in total motile sperm counts correlated positively with pretreatment prolactin levels (r = .64, p = .007, n = 16, and r = .62, p = .01, n = 15), but not with the levels of other hormones. The results suggest that in patients with idiopathic oligozoospermia (1) clomiphene citrate therapy may be more effective in the subgroup of patients who have relatively higher prolactin levels, (2) basal and stimulated gonadotropin levels may not be helpful in predicting the response to clomiphene citrate therapy, and (3) lower sperm motility is associated with relatively higher free T4 and lower LH levels. The underlying mechanisms and the clinical utility of the current observations deserve further study.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Astragalus membranaceus stimulates human sperm motility in vitro.

Poor sperm motility is an important cause of male infertility. In an attempt to identify Chinese medicinal herbs that might improve human sperm motility in vitro, we screened water extracts of 18 herbs with a trans-membrane migration method which measured the percentage of sperm that moved across the 5 micron pores of a Nucleopore membrane from a semen-drug mixture into phosphate buffered saline during 2 hours incubation. Astragalus membranaceus was the only herb that showed a significant stimulatory effect. At 10 mg/ml, it increased the motility of sperm in semen to 146.6 +/- 22.6% of control. It also increased the motility of washed sperm to 138.2 +/- 13.8% of control. Purification of the active component(s) from this herb as well as its application in assisted reproduction technology await further investigation.

Astragalus propinquus↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of sperm processing on the fertilizing capacity and recovery of motile sperm from thawed human semen.

Artificial insemination programs now rely almost exclusively on frozen semen preparations as their source of sperm. Unfortunately, several reports indicate that conception rates using frozen-thawed semen are inferior to freshly ejaculated specimens. The present study was designed to investigate the fertilizing capacity of sperm and the recovery of motile sperm from thawed semen following different sperm processing methods. Washed resuspended pellets contained sperm with at least the same fertilizing potential as sperm from swim-up techniques. However, the recovery of motile sperm from the pellets was more than 3 times greater than from the swim-up techniques. Percentage motility, progressive velocity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement were generally higher in the sperm from swim-up techniques than in the sperm from the pellets, despite equivalent fertilizing potentials. It can be argued from these results that washed resuspended sperm preparations provide a significantly greater number of motile sperm without a loss in fertility when compared to sperm from swim-up techniques. Accordingly, this study raises questions about the use of the sperm swim-up as a procedure for processing thawed semen for use in intrauterine insemination in which maximal numbers of motile sperm are required. It also demonstrates the need to identify new methods for processing frozen-thawed specimens for assisted reproductive procedures.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Automated analysis of rabbit sperm motility and the effect of chemicals on sperm motion parameters.

Appropriate software settings and optimum procedures were determined for the measurement of the motion parameters of rabbit spermatozoa by the CellSoft (Cryo Resources Ltd., Montgomery, NY) computer-assisted digital image analysis system. The system was used to follow motion parameter changes occurring in spermatozoa incubated for 6 hr with or without exposure to chemicals. Mean amplitude of lateral head displacement (AALH) increased over the 6 hr period, while curvilinear velocity (Vc) first increased and then decreased. Values for linearity (Lin), or beat cross frequency (BCF), were unchanged. The majority of spermatozoa progressed linearly, with rapid rotation of the sperm head, but subpopulations of spermatozoa with different swimming patterns appeared after 1-3 hr of incubation. Percentage motile sperm and Vc were most sensitive to the action of the compounds (pyrogallol, hydroquinone, ammonium oxalate, triethyl phosphite, and pinocolyl alcohol), while BCF was least affected. The decline in percentage of motile sperm was dependent on duration of exposure and chemical concentration. Mean Vc of the sperm population decreased rapidly upon chemical exposure and remained at a low value until motility ceased. The initial decrease in Vc was dependent on the concentration of the added compound. Motion-based indices--motility concentration (MCI50), motility time (MTI50), and velocity (VI)--were defined and used as toxicological endpoints. The rank order of these indices, the end point of the neutral red in vitro assay for cytotoxicity, and LD50 values for the five compounds were the same, suggesting that chemical inhibition of sperm motility may be useful as a method for the in vitro assessment of chemical cytotoxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Moving to the beat: a review of mammalian sperm motility regulation.

Because it is generally accepted that a high percentage of poorly motile or immotile sperm will adversely affect male fertility, analysis of sperm motility is a central part of the evaluation of male fertility. In spite of its importance to fertility, poor sperm motility remains only a description of a pathology whose underlying cause is typically poorly understood. The present review is designed to bring the clinician up to date with the most current understanding of the mechanisms that regulate sperm motility and to raise questions about how aberrations in these mechanisms could be the underlying causes of this pathology.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Measurement of the sperm motility index via the sperm quality analyzer and its relationship to other qualitative sperm parameters.

Sperm parameters such as the concentration and percentage of motile spermatozoa are commonly used to assess semen quality. The sperm quality analyzer (SQA) is a device that detects variations in the optical density of motile spermatozoa, providing a sperm motility index (SMI) that is based on various sperm parameters including the concentration, morphology and acrosomal status of motile spermatozoa. The relationship between SMI values of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa undergoing swelling in a hypoosmotic medium (100 mOsm/L) and other sperm parameters were evaluated. Frozen semen specimens from 3 bulls were thawed and washed with Ham's F-10 supplemented with 3% BSA and split into 3 (0.2 mL) aliquots. The aliquots were diluted with 1.0 mL of Ham's F-10 (Aliquot 1), isotonic sodium citrate (Aliquot 2), and hypotonic sodium citrate (Aliquot 3). The osmotic pressure of the media used for dilution of Aliquots 1 and 2 was 300 mOsm/L, while that for Aliquot 3 was 100 mOsm/L. Following dilution, the aliquots were incubated for 30 min and manually assessed at 5-min intervals for the percentage and grade of motility (Grades 0 to 4) as well as for the percentage of swollen spermatozoa. Sperm samples were simultaneously evaluated by SQA to obtain the SMI values at the same 5-min intervals during the 30-min incubation. Significant correlations were observed between SMI values and other sperm parameters in Aliquot 3 (P < 0.05). The results indicated that the SMI values obtained from frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa exposed to a 100 mOsm/L diluent, which causes optimal swelling of spermatozoa, are highly correlated to other sperm parameters. The SQA unit, as applied in this study, can be used for rapid and reliable screening of sperm samples.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Effects of pentoxifylline on human sperm motility in normospermic individuals using computer-assisted analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if pentoxifylline has an in vitro effect on human sperm motility in subjects with normal semen analysis. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal study of the effect of pentoxifylline on normospermic semen samples using computerized analysis. SETTING: The Assisted Conception Unit, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast. SUBJECTS: Eight healthy male volunteers of proven fertility within 2 years of study and whose general health was unchanged in the intervening period. RESULTS: Pentoxifylline did not consistently increase the number of progressively motile sperm or their straight line velocity (VSL). In marked contrast, the curvilinear velocity (VCL) was increased significantly at all times, up to and including 240 minutes of exposure to the drug. This resulted in a substantial reduction in the linearity (VSL/VCL) of sperm progression. The most dramatic effect that pentoxifylline had on sperm movement was to increase the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) over the same time interval. This change was accompanied by an increase in the beat cross frequency. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of pentoxifylline to prepared sperm samples from normospermic men does not increase the number of progressively motile sperm nor the progressive velocity. However, it does significantly alter the quality of certain characteristics of already motile sperm.

Electronic Data Processing↗

PubMed1988

Deterioration of stored culture media as monitored by a sperm motility bioassay.

A hamster sperm motility bioassay was used to monitor medium quality during storage. The media studied were (1) TL-PVA, a modified Tyrode's solution; (2) TLP-PVA, a defined medium that supports hamster sperm motility but does not support capacitation; and (3) TALP-PVA (TLP-PVA + serum albumin), which supports hamster sperm survival and capacitation. Each medium was stored at 5 and -20 degrees C and tested every two weeks. All of the media deteriorated with increased storage time, but at different rates (TLP-PVA greater than TL-PVA greater than TALP-PVA). The deterioration of the media correlated with an increase in pH during storage, probably due to a loss of CO2 and bicarbonate. Albumin, added after storage, was able to rescue frozen TL-PVA.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Membrane hyperpolarization removes inactivation of Ca2+ channels, leading to Ca2+ influx and subsequent initiation of sperm motility in the common carp.

Change of osmolality surrounding spawned sperm from isotonic to hypotonic causes the initiation of sperm motility in the common carp. Here we show that membrane-permeable cAMP does not initiate motility of carp sperm that is quiescent in isotonic solution, and that motility of the demembranated sperm can be reactivated without cAMP. Furthermore, the cAMP level does not change during the initiation of sperm motility, and inhibitors of protein kinase do not affect sperm motility, suggesting that no cAMP-dependent system is necessary for the regulation of sperm motility. Sperm motility could not be initiated in Ca(2+)-free hypoosmotic solutions, and significant increase in the intracellular Ca(2+) level was observed by a Ca-sensitive fluorescence dye during hypoosmolality-induced active motion period. The demembranated sperm cells were fully reactivated in the solutions containing 10(-7) to 10(-5) M Ca(2+). Ca(2+) channel blockers such as verapamil and omega-conotoxin reversibly inhibited the initiation of sperm motility, suggesting that Ca(2+) influx is the prerequisite for the initiation of carp sperm motility. Motility of intact sperm was completely blocked; however, that of the demembranated sperm was not inhibited by the calmodulin inhibitor W7, suggesting that the calmodulin bound close to the plasma membrane participated in the initiation of sperm motility. Flow cytometric membrane potential measurements and spectrophotometric measurements by using fluorescence dyes showed transient membrane hyperpolarization on hypoosmolality-induced motility. This article discusses the role of membrane hyperpolarization on removal of inactivation of Ca(2+) channels, leading to Ca(2+) influx at the initiation of carp sperm motility.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Concentration of granulocyte elastase in seminal plasma is not associated with sperm motility.

Although elastase could affect sperm motility in vitro, secretory leukocytes protease inhibitor (SLPI) prevents sperm from being attacked by elastase. The authors investigated the correlations of elastase level with sperm motility and SLPI level in vivo. Semen samples (n = 116) were collected and centrifuged after semen analysis. Elastase and SLPI levels were determined by an enzyme immunosorbent assay. Samples were classified by elastase levels into low (<250 ng/mL), moderate (250-1,000 ng/mL), and high elastase groups (> or =1,000 ng/mL). Elastase levels (range, 2.8-23,974.4 ng/mL) were not associated with sperm motility. The median SLPI level in the high elastase group was 15,900 ng/mL (range, 2.860-46,900 ng/mL). However, there was no significant correlation between elastase and SLPI levels in seminal plasma. Since SLPI forms a 1:1 complex with elastase, these results suggest that seminal plasma has a sufficient amount of SLPI to protect spermatozoa from elastase.

Enzyme Inhibitors↗