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Results for “Sperm Motility”

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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed2000

Optimizing sensitivity of the human sperm motility assay for embryo toxicity testing.

The human sperm motility assay was used as a measure of quality control in the IVF laboratory. The effects of albumin supplementation and incubation time on the sensitivity of the human sperm motility assay were investigated. The assay was also compared with mouse embryo development. The human sperm motility assay and mouse embryo development assays were performed on 25 items commonly used in IVF laboratories. Sperm motility assay was conducted after 2, 4, 6, 8, 24 and 48 h incubation intervals under standard embryology conditions. A calculated sperm motility index value <0.75 was used to indicate sperm toxicity. It was found that optimum sensitivity (P < 0.01) of the human sperm motility assay was attained in the absence of albumin after 4, 8 and 48 h incubation periods. Items identified to be sperm toxic within 8 h by the human sperm motility assay were considered to be of clinical significance due to the close concordance of these results with mouse embryo development.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Diethylstilbestrol-treated adult rats with altered epididymal sperm numbers and sperm motility parameters, but without alterations in sperm production and sperm morphology.

In this study, we characterized estrogenic effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on reproductive parameters in male rats to identify a minimal dose level that alters epididymal and sperm functions but has little or no effect on sperm production and/or spermatogenesis. Adult rats (five animals/group) received s.c. injections of 0.2 ml of corn oil containing DES at a rate of 1.0 mg, 200 microg, 40 microg, 8 microg, 1.6 microg, or 320 ng x rat(-1) x day(-1) for 12 days. The control group received corn oil only. DES effects were similar in the 8-microg group and higher dose groups and included significant (P < or = 0.05) reductions in 1) absolute and relative weights of the head and body of the epididymis (EP), tail of the EP, and seminal vesicle, 2) numbers of sperm in both regions of the EP, and 3) motility characteristics in sperm collected from the tail of the EP. Conversely, no significant changes were observed in relative testis weight, daily sperm production, spermatogenesis, seminiferous epithelial height in stage VII, and sperm morphology. All of the above parameters in the 1.6-microg group (except seminal vesicle weight) and 320-ng group were comparable to those of controls. Plasma testosterone (T) level was reduced to an almost undetectable level in the > or = 8-microg groups and to a very low level in the 1.6-microg group (0.35 vs. 2.36 ng/ml in controls or 320-ng group), but LH level was unaltered. In a parallel fertility study, males received DES at a rate of 40, 8, or 1.6 microg x rat(-1) x day(-1) for 12 days prior to and 12 days during cohabitation (1:1) with untreated females. Of the 15 females cohabited with treated males (5 females/dose), none in the 40-microg and 8-microg groups and 1 in the 1.6-microg group formed a copulatory plug and delivered 8 pups, in contrast to 5/5 copulatory plugs and 13-15 pups/litter in the controls. DES at a rate of 8 microg x rat(-1) x day(-1) for 12 days reduced EP weights, sperm numbers in the EP, and sperm motility patterns but caused minimal to no alterations in daily sperm production, spermatogenesis, or sperm morphology. Factors other than T, or in addition to lower T, may be responsible for DES-induced reproductive disorders (despite lower T, sperm contents and sperm motility patterns in the EP were normal in the 1.6-microg group). Deficits in EP sperm functions and/or sexual behavior (as evident from absence of copulatory plugs) probably accounted for reduced fertility in treated males.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Effect of peritoneal fluid on sperm motility and velocity distribution using objective measurements.

The aim of this study was to analyze in vitro the effect(s) of peritoneal fluid (PF) on sperm motility. Seventy PFs obtained during laparoscopy were tested on motile-rich sperm suspensions. Proportion of motile sperm and velocity distribution were evaluated by multiple-exposure photography technique. At time (t) = 0, PFs increased both sperm parameters as compared with control (P less than 0.01). Maximum effect was observed at t = 5 hours: 32 (45%) PFs increased and 5 (7%) decreased the proportion of motile sperm, while 8 (11%) PFs increased and 4 (6%) decreased sperm velocity. No correlation was found between a particular infertile group and a definite negative effect. However, 70% of PFs from fertile women maintained or increased the proportion of motile sperm at t = 5 hours, compared with 36% in the total infertile group. Comparison of the sperm motility effect(s) of a given PF on different ejaculates revealed that the effects observed also were influenced by the sperm sample tested. In conclusion, PFs can maintain or increase the motility of spermatozoa as function of time. However, some PFs can inhibit sperm motility and these effect(s) can be influenced by the sperm sample.

Body Fluids↗

PubMed1984

Comparison of methods for detecting mitomycin C- and ethyl nitrosourea-induced germ cell damage in mice: sperm enzyme activities, sperm motility, and testis weight.

Testes weights, sperm motility and enzyme activities in single sperm were compared with respect to their ability to detect either developmental or mutational damage to germ cells. Male mice were injected i.p. with 2.5 mg/kg mitomycin C (MC) or 50 or 100 mg/kg ethylnitrosourea (ENU) or saline and were then killed at times such that sperm derived from treated vas sperm (SZ), spermatids (ST), preleptotene-late-spermatogonial cells (PLSG), spermatogonial cells (SG), or spermatogonial stem cells (SGS) could be evaluated. Testis weights decreased significantly as early as 1 wk after treatment, with the greatest decrease reached 3-4 wk after treatment, followed by recovery to normal levels 10-15 wk after treatment. We conclude that testis weight, which is easily obtained, is a sensitive indicator of germ cell damage by these agents. Sperm from each animal were evaluated for sperm motility, acrosin activity, succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity with or without the competitive inhibitor malonate or after exposure to 60 degrees C for 10 min. The latter two assays were to detect sperm enzymes resistant to the inhibitor or heat. The presence of the acrosin protein was also detected immunologically. Sperm motility decreased most from treatment of PLSG and SG. After MC or ENU treatment, the greatest loss of acrosin activity and of the acrosin protein was also noted in sperm derived from treated PLSG and SG. MC and ENU failed to induce SDH activity in single sperm resistant to 60 degrees C heat inhibition or to inhibition by malonate. Of the sperm assays, acrosin activity proved to be the most sensitive indicator of germ cell damage and was the simplest to measure.

Acrosin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Motile sperm in human testis biopsy specimens.

We prospectively studied 62 consecutive infertile men who underwent 100 intraoperative wet prep cytological examinations of testis biopsy material obtained simultaneously with permanently fixed specimens. Wet preps were performed by placing a small sample of fresh testicular tissue on a slide, adding a drop of Ringer's lactate, and compressing the specimen under a glass coverslip. Among these 100 wet preps, complete sperm with tails were identified in 62 specimens, of which 44 contained nonmotile sperm and 18 contained motile sperm. Reproductive tract obstruction was documented in 65 testes (65%) on subsequent reconstructive surgery and/or inferred from histological evaluation, including mean mature spermatid counts on the permanent sections fixed in Bouin's solution. Obstruction was absent in the remaining testes (35%). All 18 testes with motile sperm found on wet prep were obstructed. These testes were also found to have complete spermatogenesis, a category selected to include normal spermatogenesis and slight hypospermatogenesis, determined by examination of the permanently fixed sections. The finding of motile vs. nonmotile sperm on a wet prep has positive predictive values of 100% vs. 81% for the presence of reproductive tract obstruction and 94% vs. 86% for complete spermatogenesis, respectively. The presence of motile sperm in human testis biopsy specimens is a novel finding. When any complete sperm with tail is found in a testis biopsy wet prep, obstruction is likely. When motile sperm are present, obstruction is almost certain, and immediate exploration and reconstructive surgery can be justified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Dynamics of exogenous kallikrein-stimulated bovine sperm motility in the presence of seminal plasma kallikrein.

Sperm motility is known to be activated and maintained by kallikrein contained within the seminal plasma. We studied the relationship between the levels of seminal plasma kallikrein activity and in vitro exogenous kallikrein-induced sperm motility enhancement. Semen samples were collected from Holstein-Friesian bulls and grouped on the basis of the initial total sperm motility into Group I with > 60 % (mean 75.3 +/- 1.8 %, n = 25), and Group II with < 60 % (mean 51.2 +/- 1.7%, n = 25). Seminal plasma kallikrein activity was measured with the aid of the specific chromogenic substrate S-2266. In Group I the mean activity was 0.983 +/- 0.042 microkat/L, and in Group II it was 0.805 +/- 0.063 microkat/L (P < 0.05). Then each semen sample was divided into a control and an experimental subgroup treated with 16.7 microkat/L of hog pancreatic kallikrein. Total sperm motility was monitored at 1-h intervals. It was found that the addition of exogenous kallikrein stimulated the sperm motility in both groups but in the 4th h after treatment the difference in sperm motility between the experimental and control subgroups of Group I was 12.4 % whereas in Group II it was 21.7 %. We concluded that adding exogenous kallikrein in vitro to semen samples with lower kallikrein activity in the seminal plasma enhanced total sperm motility more than adding it to ejaculates with higher levels of endogenous kallikrein activity.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Increased phosphorylation of AKAP by inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase enhances human sperm motility through tail recruitment of protein kinase A.

Sperm motility is regulated by a complex balance between kinases and phosphatases. Among them, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) has been recently suggested to negatively regulate sperm motility (Luconi, M., Marra, F., Gandini, L., Lenzi, A., Filimberti, E., Forti, G. and Baldi, E. (2001). Hum. Reprod. 16, 1931-1937). We demonstrate the presence and activity of PI 3-kinase in human spermatozoa and have investigated the molecular mechanism(s) by which the PI 3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, triggers an increase in sperm motility. PI 3-kinase inhibition results in an increase in intracellular cAMP levels and in tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein kinase A-anchoring protein AKAP3. These effects finally result in a stimulation of protein kinase A (PKA) binding to AKAP3 in sperm tails through the regulatory subunit RIIbeta. The increased binding of RIIbeta to AKAP3 induced by LY294002 is mainly due to tyrosine phosphorylation of AKAP3, since it is completely blocked by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erbstatin, which also reverses the effects of LY294002 on motility and suppresses PKA-AKAP3 interaction. The requirement of PKA binding to AKAP3 for sperm motility is confirmed by the reduction of motility induced by an inhibitor of RIIbeta-AKAP3 binding, Ht31, whose effects on sperm motility and PKA binding to AKAP3 are reversed by LY294002. These results demonstrate that PI 3-kinase negatively regulates sperm motility by interfering with AKAP3-PKA binding, providing the first evidence of a molecular mechanism by which PKA can be targeted to sperm tails by interaction with tyrosine phosphorylated form of AKAP3.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

PubMed2006

In vitro effects of arecoline on sperm motility and cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

Semen samples were obtained from 30 volunteers who had never consumed betel quid. Swim-up spermatozoa from the 30 seminal samples of non-betel quid chewers and also non-smokers, usually not exposed to passive smoking, were treated in vitro with arecoline at different concentrations to evaluate the action of these drugs on sperm motility. Highly motile sperms were collected and divided into 5 equal fractions. Four fractions were supplemented with various concentrations of arecoline and one as control. The study was carried out at time 0 and +1, +2, +3 and +4 hr of incubation. Sperm cells were also extracted and blotted with COX-2 antibody after arecoline treatment after 4 hr incubation. The sperm motility parameters, i.e., motility, average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity and linearity, were significantly decreased after arecoline treatment. In vitro, arecoline induces the COX-2 expression of sperm cells in a dose-dependent manner. This is the first report to demonstrate that arecoline may mediate COX-2 expression in human sperms, resulting in inflammation response. This situation may act on the structure responsible for the flagellar motion and cause the reduction of sperm motility.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Sperm motility on postcoital testing correlates with male autoimmunity to sperm.

To assess whether or not immunologic factors in husbands, wives, or both, influence the motility of sperm in the female reproductive tract, hemagglutination and cytotoxicity sperm antibody (Ab) assays and postcoital tests (PCTs) were performed in 293 infertile couples. More couples without male autoimmunity to sperm (64% of 66; P less than 0.001) had greater than or equal to 10 motile sperm per high power field (adequate PCT), as compared with 26% of 122 couples with untreated male autoimmunity, 19% of 77 couples with corticosteroid-treated male autoimmunity without a pregnancy, and 36% of 28 couples with successfully treated male autoimmunity to sperm. Good correlation was obtained among pregnancy achievement, lack of sperm antibodies, and adequate sperm motility in the PCT (P less than 0.0001). Sperm motility in the PCT correlated positively with sperm motility in the semen and inversely with cytotoxic sperm Ab in the serum and seminal plasma of men and women and hemagglutinating sperm Ab in the cervical mucus samples. Sperm motility in the PCT has a predictive value of 72% for male autoimmunity and 57% for female isoimmunity to sperm in the presence of normal cervical mucus and in the absence of infections.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical use of the turbidimetric analysis of sperm motility: an update.

The turbidimetric method of sperm motility analysis provides a quantitative measure of sperm motility. We have previously reported the methodology by which this method is utilized in routine sperm motility determinations in our Male Fertility Clinic. We have recently observed that the motility of sperm in dialyzed seminal plasma is over double the motility in Lopata's medium. This report provides quantitative evidence that the use of dialyzed seminal plasma in the turbidimetric analysis is significantly superior than the use of Lopata's medium.

Dialysis↗

PubMed1999

Relationship between sperm motility and the processing and tyrosine phosphorylation of two human sperm fibrous sheath proteins, pro-hAKAP82 and hAKAP82.

Sperm motility is regulated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase-A)-mediated phosphorylation of a group of largely unidentified flagellar proteins. Human AKAP82 (hAKAP82) and its precursor protein, pro-hAKAP82, are members of the A-kinase anchor protein (AKAP) family. These proteins tether protein kinase-A to the fibrous sheath of human spermatozoa and presumably localize the activity of the kinase near specific targets in the sperm flagellum. In this way, pro-hAKAP82 and hAKAP82 may be involved in regulating sperm motility. Similar to its homologues in other species, pro-hAKAP82 is proteolytically processed to hAKAP82. However, the amount of processing of pro-hAKAP82 in human spermatozoa is less than the amount of processing of the precursor in other species. We postulated that this lower extent of processing may be related to lower percentages of human sperm motility. In addition, both pro-hAKAP82 and hAKAP82 are tyrosine phosphorylated in a capacitation-dependent manner. Since capacitation is associated with hyperactivated motility, we postulated that tyrosine phosphorylation of pro-hAKAP82/hAKAP82 is associated with changes in motility. However, using a combination of immunofluorescence and immunoblotting approaches, we found no evidence for an association between either processing or tyrosine phosphorylation of pro-hAKAP82/hAKAP82 and significant differences in motility in spermatozoa from normal men.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins↗

PubMed2000

The decline of porcine sperm motility by geldanamycin, a specific inhibitor of heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90).

Sperm motility is an important parameter for fertility. The molecular mechanisms of mammalian sperm motility are still largely undefined. Our previous observations suggested that heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) may be associated with porcine sperm motility. The aim of the present study was to further characterize the plausible novel function of HSP90 on sperm motility. Semen from normal, sexually mature boars with sperm motility higher than 80% was used. An HSP90-specific inhibitor, geldanamycin (GA), was added to diluted semen at 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0 microg/mL and the semen was then incubated at 37 degrees C for 15, 30, 45 or 60 min. Sperm motility was determined by using computer-assisted semen analyzer at the end of incubation. The results indicated that GA significantly reduced sperm motility in a dose and time dependent manner. Moreover, incubation of semen with 5.0 microg/mL GA for 15 min completely stopped sperm motility. To test the reversibility of the GA effect on sperm motility, GA was removed after 30 min incubation and was replaced with fresh extender alone or with extender plus 5 mM caffeine, then incubated for another 15, 30, 45 or 60 min. The results showed that simply removing GA did not reverse the inhibitory effect on sperm motility, while adding caffeine partially reversed this inhibitory effect. However, the effect of 2.5 or 5.0 microg/mL GA was not reversed by caffeine. Considering the specificity of GA targeting to HSP90, the above observations suggested that HSP90 may play a crucial role in regulating porcine sperm motility.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Laser light-scattering study of the effect of washing on sperm motility.

The effect of washing on human sperm motility was measured by means of dynamic laser light-scattering spectroscopy. Semen samples from 24 fertile donors were diluted with Biggers, Whitten and Whittingham (BWW) medium and subsequently centrifuged at one of the following forces: 235 x g, 325 x g, 400 x g, 470 x g, 500 x g, 600 x g, and 800 x g. The duration of centrifugation was 8 minutes for the first wash, 6 minutes for the second wash, and 3 minutes for the third wash. Sperm motility was evaluated in terms of the root mean square swimming speed of the spermatozoa and the mean migration rate of washed spermatozoa in estrous bovine cervical mucus (BCM). It was found that sperm motility and viability were improved when semen samples were washed at 235 x g, even after three washes. However, washing at forces of 600 x g or more reduced sperm motility and also their ability to penetrate cervical mucus in vitro. Repeated washing at forces between 300 x g and 500 x g had little deleterious effect on sperm motility.

Cell Separation↗

PubMed1994

[Variability of seminal analysis and of objective parameters of sperm motility in semen during sperm capacitation in subjects with proved fertility].

We studied the variability of traditional semen analysis parameters as well as sperm motion characteristics analyzed by computer-assisted-semen analyzer in semen and after 2 hours of incubation in capacitation conditions. Twenty men with probed fertility provided three semen samples and 60 men provide one. The higher variability was observed with seminal sperm concentration, the lower variation was observed for percent motility and percent of normal morphology. Ten Oligospermic donors (12,5%) were observed in our population without other semen parameters abnormalities. Their motion characteristics were comparable to cells analyzed from normospermic men. A lower variability of sperm motion characteristics was observed during sperm capacitation compared to sperm movement in seminal plasma; suggesting that sperm motion characteristics during capacitation may be a usefull method additional to semen analysis to evaluate male fertility potential.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

PubMed1991

Follicular fluid enhances sperm motility and velocity in vitro.

Forty-three follicular fluids (FFs) obtained during laparoscopy were tested in vitro for their effect(s) on sperm motility using gametes obtained by the swim-up procedure. Both the proportion of motile sperm and the velocity distribution patterns were evaluated as function of time by multiple-exposure photography technique. At the various incubation periods considered, all FFs maintained or then enhanced sperm motility as compared with the paired control suspension incubated with a sperm survival medium. The results of the sperm contact test for FFs from women who achieved pregnancy versus FFs from women who remained infertile were not significantly different for both parameters measured. Comparing these with our previously reported results, we may hypothesize that FF released at ovulation into the peritoneal cavity may counteract some sperm-immobilizing effect of peritoneal fluid, thereby increasing the fertility potential of the male gametes.

Ascitic Fluid↗

PubMed1987

Temperature-dependent effects of the components of kallikrein-kinin system on sperm motility in vitro.

The effect of kallikrein and bradykinin on sperm motility was studied. For investigation of whether the effect is not temperature dependent, sperm motility and velocity were measured after incubation with kallikrein or bradykinin at different temperatures. The effect of kallikrein on sperm motility and velocity was demonstrated significantly at 22 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, this effect was absent, but with captopril the effect of kallikrein on sperm velocity was observed. Bradykinin stimulated sperm motility and velocity at 22 degrees C and at 33 degrees C. However, it did not stimulate sperm motility at 37 degrees C. With 1.10 phenantroline, the effect of bradykinin on sperm motility was detected. These results indicate that kallikrein and bradykinin stimulate sperm motility and velocity and that their effects are strongly temperature dependent.

Bradykinin↗

PubMed1981

[Rate of pregnancies after homologous insemination. Improvement of sperm motility with prostaglandin F2-alpha].

The effect of prostaglandin F2-alpha on sperm motility in vitro was studied on 26 pathologic sperm samples. A highly significant increase of sperm motility was observed after addition of a physiologic concentration i.e. 2500 ng/ml to the sperm samples. Sperm motility was improved quantitatively as well as qualitatively. The percentage of motile sperms in the sperm samples which responded to prostaglandin F2-alpha was X = 32.8% and in the controls X = 15.6%. Highly concentrated prostaglandin F2-alpha did not affect sperm motility. The mechanism of action and therapeutic implications of prostaglandin F2-alpha in vitro are discussed in the view of activation of sperm motility in native and kryopreserved ejaculates prior to homologous insemination.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of Sp-cAMP on sperm motility in patients with unexplained infertility.

Sperm motility is one of the most important semen parameters affecting the fertility of an individual. Sp-cAMP, a thiophosphate analogue of c-AMP, is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor controlling the intracellular c-AMP levels which in turn influences sperm motility. The results in our laboratory on a group of suspected subfertile men and fertile donors showed significant enhancement of sperm motility after incubation of washed sperm with various doses of Sp-cAMP.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗