Plasma membrane integrity of cryopreserved human sperm: an investigation of the results of the hypoosmotic swelling test, the water test, and eosin-y staining

Objective: [1] To examine the relationship between sperm membrane integrity and motion parameters before and after cryopreservation; [2] to determine the capacity of the membrane integrity tests to predict the outcome of cryopreservation in fertile and infertile men; and [3] to examine the degree of agreement between tail and head membrane integrity of testicular and ejaculated immotile sperm cryopreserved for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Academic tertiary care institution.

Patient(s): Fertile donors and normozoospermic oligozoospermic, and asthenozoospermic subfertile men.

Intervention(s): Semen samples were cryopreserved and thawed for analysis.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm membrane integrity and computer-assisted motion parameters.

Result(s): The hypoosmotic swelling test and water test had a significant and positive correlation in the fresh and cryopreserved ejaculates of all groups. The results of the hypoosmotic swelling test correlated positively with the percent motility in the fresh ejaculates of fertile and subfertile men. None of the membrane integrity tests correlated with the cryosurvival rate in any group. In the ejaculated and testicular samples with no postcryopreservation motility, the simultaneous assessment of hypoosmotic swelling test and eosin showed that of 33% sperm exhibiting coiling with the hypoosmotic swelling test, only 9% were eosin negative, whereas 24% were eosin positive.

Conclusion(s): [1] The water test may be a simpler replacement for the hypoosmotic swelling test; [2] none of the membrane integrity tests predicted sperm motility after cryopreservation; and [3] there was a high degree of disagreement between the hypoosmotic swelling test and eosin in the samples with no postcryopreservation motility.     

Effect of storage temperature on sperm cryopreservation

Objective: To evaluate the influence of cryopreservation temperature on human sperm motility and morphology.

Design: Controlled study, investigator was blinded to the type of cryopreservation.

Setting: University-based andrology laboratory.

Patient(s): Sixteen semen samples with normal motility and sperm count from men after a fertility work up.

Intervention(s): Semen aliquots were either stored in a mechanical freezer at −70°C or in liquid nitrogen at −196°C for 7 days or 3 months. Test yolk buffer was used as a cryoprotectant. With use of a programmable freezing unit, all samples were cooled at a controlled rate.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm motility and morphology.

Result(s): After 7 days of cryopreservation, there was a greater decrease in sperm motility among specimens maintained at −70°C than among those maintained at −196°C (47% versus 39% decrease). The difference in sperm motility was even greater after 3 months of cryopreservation (72% versus 39% decrease). No difference in postthaw sperm morphology was detected among sperm preserved at −70°C versus −196°C.

Conclusion(s): Sperm cryopreservation at −196°C is superior to cryopreservation at −70°C. Sperm can be stored at −70°C for a short period of time with a relatively modest loss of motility.     

Single sperm cryopreservation on cryoloops: an alternative to hamster zona for freezing individual spermatozoa

Methodology enabling cryopreservation of individual spermatozoa in extreme cases of oligozoospermia would tremendously benefit patients. This study explores the use of a nylon loop for cryopreservation of small quantities of spermatozoa, and also describes a novel technique for freezing individual spermatozoa with this cryoloop. Experiments were conducted to compare sperm recovery and viability after cryopreservation in conventional vials versus on the cryoloops. Discarded human sperm specimens with varying parameters were utilized. The study also examines two different glycerolbased cryoprotectants, with and without test yolk buffer. For single sperm cryopreservation, 5-10 spermatozoa were selected and loaded onto cryoloops with the aid of a microscope and micromanipulation equipment. Sperm function testing was performed on both human and bovine spermatozoa frozen on cryoloops. Microquantities of spermatozoa frozen on cryoloops exhibited overall motility and viability parameters similar to control samples frozen in cryovials. Individually selected spermatozoa cryopreserved on loops were easily recovered and post-thaw motility was generally good. Sperm function testing demonstrated that both human and bovine spermatozoa cryopreserved on loops were able to undergo sperm head decondensation when injected into oocytes. Cryoloops may be an excellent alternative to hamster zonae for cryopreserving small numbers of human spermatozoa.     

Addition of zinc to human ejaculate prior to cryopreservation prevents freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage and preserves sperm function

Purpose

To study the effect of addition of zinc to human semen sample prior to cryopreservation on post-thaw sperm quality and function.

Methods

Semen samples were collected from men attending university infertility clinic for semen analysis (n=109). Liquefied semen samples were cryopreserved in glycerol-egg yolk- citrate medium with or without the prior addition of zinc (100 μM) and stored in liquid nitrogen. After 10 days, the semen samples were thawed to assess the outcome. Sperm motility, DNA integrity, mitochondrial potential and the ability of spermatozoa to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction was assessed in post-thaw samples.

Results

Semen samples cryopreserved after addition of zinc had a significantly higher percentage of sperm with intact DNA (p<0.001), mitochondrial function (p<0.001) and progressive motility (p<0.01) compared to the semen samples cryopreserved without zinc supplementation. Apart from this, ability to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro was significantly higher in semen samples cryopreserved with zinc (p<0.0001 and p<0.001 respectively).

Conclusions

Addition of zinc to semen samples prior to cryopreservation helps in preventing the freeze-thaw-induced sperm DNA damage and loss of sperm function.     

Comparison of protective media and freezing techniques for cryopreservation of human semen

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of cryopreservation medium and freezing-thawing techniques on human sperm motility and morphology. STUDY DESIGN: 63 semen samples were obtained from 39 donors to the artificial insemination programme. Possible effects of the sperm dilution with cryomedium on the motility were examined 10 min after exposure of 24 high initial quality semen samples to TEST-yolk ?zwitterion-citrate-egg yolk extender containing TES [N-Tris (hydroxymethyl) methylaminoethane sulfonic acid] and Tris [(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane]? and human sperm preservation medium (HSPM). Post-thaw sperm motility from 24 frozen semen samples was examined comparing the cryoprotective efficacy of TEST-yolk and HSPM following different freezing techniques (vapour freezing, fast programmable freezing and slow programmable freezing). The relationship of sperm morphology to the effects of freezing was investigated on 39 semen samples following different freezing techniques. Post-thaw sperm motility from 39 frozen semen samples was compared among three groups divided according to the percentage of morphologically normal cells (<40, 40-50 and >50%) in fresh semen. RESULTS: Exposure of spermatozoa to cryomedia for 10 min at room temperature significantly reduced motility in TEST-yolk treatment group for 9% and in HSPM treatment group for 18% (P<0.01). The recovery of motile sperms (mean+/-standard deviation) was 49+/-15.7, 43+/-15.2 and 52+/-16.8% when TEST-yolk was used and 34+/-17.8, 32+/-18.2 and 50+/-13.6% when HSPM was used as a cryopreservative following vapour freezing, and fast and slow programmable freezing, respectively. Following vapour freezing and also following fast programmable freezing, the recovery of motile sperm was significantly higher (P<0.05) after addition of TEST-yolk medium than after addition of HSPM. Post-thaw motility of the sperm cryopreserved in HSPM showed significant differences (P<0.05) after three different freezing techniques. The recovery of motile sperms was 57+/-26.4, 38+/-8.6 and 38+/-17.3% in groups with >50, 40-50 and <40% morphologically normal cells, respectively. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was reduced 8% after vapour freezing and 6 and 3% after fast and slow programmable freezing, respectively. The results were statistically analysed using SAS/STAT software. CONCLUSIONS: Slow programmable freezing was superior to vapour freezing and fast programmable freezing as a method for sperm cryopreservation. However, none of these methods of freezing had discernible effects on sperm morphology. Motility of spermatozoa decreased due to the exposure of semen to cryomedium. TEST-yolk was a superior cryomedium to HSPM. Fresh semen with more than 50% of morphologically normal cells showed the best recovery of motile cells after freezing and thawing.     

人冷冻精液巴氏染色法的应用评价

目的:探讨人冷冻精液应用巴氏染色法的染色效果。方法:30例人精液标本冷冻保存后,冷冻精液涂片应用巴氏(Papanicolaou)染色法进行染色,观察精子和非精子细胞的染色效果,检测冷冻精子畸形率。应用透射电镜观察冷冻精子头部(n=8)超微结构的改变。结果:冷冻保存后的精子畸形率,与冷冻前的比较无统计学差异(P>0.05)。冷冻精子头、颈、尾部,各种形态类型精子以及非精子细胞的着色效果与新鲜精液的对比无明显不同。冷冻精液涂片后自然干燥所需的时间较长。透射电镜观察到冷冻精子头部浆膜及顶体发生肿胀和破损。结论:巴氏染色法可以应用于冷冻精液的涂片染色,实际应用时需注意冷冻精液含有甘油等的特点。     

Semen treatment with progesterone and/or acetyl-L-carnitine does not improve sperm motility or membrane damage after cryopreservation-thawing

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of progesterone and acetyl-L-carnitine used before semen cryopreservation-thawing on sperm motility parameters and plasma membrane integrity. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.Setting: Academic tertiary center. PATIENT(S): Subfertile men undergoing semen evaluation. INTERVENTION(S): Before cryopreservation, spermatozoa were incubated with water-soluble progesterone (1 and 10 microM), acetyl-L-carnitine (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mM), or both (progesterone, 1 microM; and acetyl-L-carnitine, 5 mM). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Postthaw change of motility parameters (computer-assisted measurements) and vitality-membrane integrity (examined with eosin-Y staining and annexin V-Cy3 binding assay). RESULT(S): There were no statistically significant differences between control samples and samples treated with progesterone and/or acetyl-L-carnitine for cryosurvival rate, motility parameters, or membrane integrity. The percentages of postthaw cells identified as live showed significantly different results with use of the eosin-Y staining and annexin V binding assay. CONCLUSION(S): Neither progesterone nor acetyl-L-carnitine seemed to prevent cryodamage assessed by motility changes or membrane integrity in human spermatozoa of subfertile men. Annexin V binding, a reflection of membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine, provided more distinct information about postfreezing membrane integrity changes than eosin-Y staining.     

Cryopreservation of human sperm in patients with malignancy: First 2 years’ experience

Background  Patients with malignancy (n = 130) participated in the sperm cryopreservation program. Methods  After washing and concentrating, sperm was cryopreserved using KS-VIm cryoprotectant medium. Participant background factors such as age, marital status, underlying disease, presence or absence of previous treatment and semen findings (concentration, motility and morphology) were analyzed to determine parameters associated with the program. Results  Patients in their 20s were most common (64 cases) and 94 cases were unmarried at the first visit. The main underlying diseases were testicular tumor (53 cases), leukemia (43 cases) and malignant lymphoma (13 cases). The program was completed for 118 cases. For leukemia, all semen parameters were closer to normal in patients without previous treatment (untreated group, UG) compared with the treated group (TG). When semen findings in the UG were classified according to underlying disease, sperm concentration was lower in patients with testicular tumor compared with those who had leukemia or malignant lymphoma. Four couples underwent reproductive therapies with the cryopreserved sperm through assisted reproductive technology, and three babies were born to two couples. Conclusion  Sperm cryopreservation liberates patients with malignancy from iatrogenic infertility as a consequence of intensive therapy, allowing them to retain reproductive ability.     

ANDROLOGY: The Effects of Follicular Fluid and Platelet-Activating Factor on Motion Characteristics of Poor-Quality Cryopreserved Human Sperm

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of follicular fluid and platelet-activating factor on sperm motion characteristics of cryopreserved oligospermic and normospermic samples.Methods: Sperm motion characteristics were evaluated prior to cryopreservation, immediately after thawing and following incubation in human tubal fluid, follicular fluid, or 1-M platelet-activating factor cultures. Sixteen oligospermic samples and 20 normospermic samples were examined. Sperm motion characteristics were analyzed manually according to WHO criteria (1999) and also with an automated videomicrography system.Result(s): Incubation in follicular fluid increased overall motility and the percentage of sperm with fast progressive motility in normospermic but not oligospermic samples. Incubation with platelet-activating factor increased overall motility and the percentage of sperm showing nonprogressive motility in both oligospermic and normospermic samples.Conclusion(s): The stimulatory effects of culture in follicular fluid as seen in normospermic samples do not show a significant benefit in oligospermic cryopreserved samples. Platelet-activating factor and follicular fluid increase motility via different mechanisms. Incubation of oligospermic cryopreserved sperm with PAF increases the number of motile sperm, thereby enabling easier identification of viable sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection in samples with severe asthenozoospermia.     

Custom cryopreservation of human semen.

OBJECTIVE: To design a protocol to evaluate individual variability in human semen cryoprotection by native seminal plasma. DESIGN: Post-thaw motility from the frozen semen of pregnancy-proven donors (n = 10) and patients referred for infertility screening (n = 10) was examined in three equal aliquots (per original ejaculate) that comprised varying ratios of native seminal plasma to TES and Tris (TEST)-yolk buffer (Irvine Scientific, Irvine, CA) in a dose-titration curve format. All aliquots from the same ejaculate contained final vol/vol 6% glycerol, had equal sperm density, and had undergone centrifugation for 5 minutes at 600 x g before buffer:semen ratio adjustment and standard precooling protocol for submersion in liquid nitrogen. Post-thaw measurement of percent original motility preserved (post-thaw percent motility/original percent motility x 100) was used for standardization of results. RESULTS: In 14 of 20 specimens (70%), the maximal yield of original motility was obtained in 50% seminal plasma, with an average post-thaw motile yield of 50%. In 6 of 20 specimens (30%), the best preservation of original motility was noted at 100% seminal plasma, with an average post-thaw motile yield of 58%. No specimen had a greatest percent motility preserved at 0% seminal plasma. Donor specimens have equal preference for either 50% or 100% seminal plasma, whereas patient specimens have a preference for 50% seminal plasma (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Native seminal plasma has variable cryoprotectant qualities for which custom cryopreservation can compensate. A simple two-point dose-titration test of cryopreservation buffer:seminal plasma ratio (i.e., 50:50 versus 0:100) can determine the optimal mixture for cryopreservation of a given individual's semen.     

Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa. III. The effect of cryoprotectants on motility

A series of experiments was conducted to examine potential toxic effects of cryoprotectants on motility of human spermatozoa. The data indicated that exposure of spermatozoa to cryoprotectant medium for as little as 15 minutes at room temperature caused a reduction in motility. This reduction in motility was caused by glycerol. Lowering glycerol concentrations from 7.5% to 5.0% improved sperm motility at 24 hours post-thaw. Sperm motility was not affected by either slow or abrupt cooling rates above -5 degrees C. Motility was greater in cryopreserved sperm at 24 hours post-thaw when glycerol was added at -5 degrees C rather than at room temperature. These data suggest that avoiding glycerol toxicity either by reducing the concentration used or by adding glycerol at a lower temperature, or both, may improve human sperm cryosurvival rates.     

Optimal Utilization of Cryopreserved Human Semen for Assisted Reproduction: Recovery and Maintenance of Sperm Motility and Viability

Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate sperm motility and viability and the maintenance of these parameters in already cryopreserved semen samples following repeated freezing/thawing cycles. Methods: Human spermatozoa were subjected to five cycles of cryopreservation/thawing. Recovery of sperm motility and viability and the proportion of viable nonmotile sperm were determined up to 6 hr after thaw. Results: Sperm motilities (prefreeze motility, 70.1%; n = 9 samples) after each of five freeze/thaw cycles were 24.4, 8.0, 3.5, 1.5, and 1.8%. The recovery of sperm viability was higher than that of motility after each cycle: 39.1, 25.3, 22.6, 17.8, and 16.5%. Recoveries of motility and viability were improved if the thawed samples were left in the original cryopreservation medium prior to refreezing vs. if a washing/resuspension step was included. The recovery of sperm motility in the first thawing cycle was indicative of the expected motile sperm recovery in the second thawing cycle. Conclusions: Cryopreserved semen that is intended to be reused in future assisted reproduction treatments should be thawed only once and aliquoted in the original freezing medium before refreezing. The recovery of sperm motility and viability in the second thawing cycle, thus the applicability of the sample in conventional in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection may be anticipated in >90% of the samples. In view of intracytoplasmic sperm injection it is important that sperm viability is maintained better than motility; after the first, second, and third thawing cycles the ratios of motile:nonmotile viable sperm were 1:1, 1:4, and 1:7, respectively.     

Sperm banking for fertility preservation: a 20-year experience

Objective

Sperm banking is an effective method to preserve fertility, but is not universally offered to males facing gonadotoxic treatment in the United States. We compared the disposition and semen parameters of cryopreserved sperm from individuals referred for sperm banking secondary to a cancer diagnosis to those of sperm from men banking for infertility reasons.

Study design

We performed a retrospective cohort study that reviewed 1118 records from males who presented to bank sperm at Washington University between 1991 and 2010. We collected and analyzed demographics, semen parameters, and disposition of banked sperm.

Results

Four hundred and twenty-three men with cancer and 348 banking for infertility reasons attempted sperm cryopreservation in our unit during the specified time period. The most prevalent cancers in our cohort were testicular (32%), lymphoma (25%), and leukemia (11%). Patients with leukemia had the lowest pre-thaw counts and motility. Most cancer patients (57%) who banked elected to use, transfer to another facility, or keep their specimens in storage. The remaining samples were discarded electively (34%) or following death (8%). Overall semen parameters were similar between the cancer and infertility groups, but demographics, ability to bank a sample, azoospermia rates, length of storage, current banking status, and use of banked sperm differed significantly between the two groups.

Conclusions

The majority of cancer patients who banked survived their cancer and chose to continue storage of banked samples. Cancer patients were more likely than infertility patients to use or continue storage of banked samples. Our study provides evidence that sperm banking is a utilized modality of fertility preservation in patients with a myriad of cancer diagnoses and should be offered to all men facing gonadotoxic therapies. Further work is needed to determine where disparities in access to sperm banking exist to improve the potential for future fertility in these males.     

Fertility after cancer: a prospective review of assisted reproductive outcome with banked semen specimens

OBJECTIVE: To examine the outcome of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) using cryopreserved semen from patients with cancer. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: Therapeutic semen banking program at a tertiary healthcare center. PATIENT(S): Twenty-nine men with cancer who cryopreserved their sperm before treatment at our facility from 1982 to 2001 and withdrew their samples for assisted reproduction (IUI, IVF, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]). INTERVENTION(S): Sperm bank records were used to identify the patients. Information on fertility potential indices was obtained from medical records and through interviews. Of the 29 patients, 9 had testicular cancer, 12 had Hodgkin's disease, and 8 had other types of cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Pregnancy and live births. RESULT(S): A total of 87 ART cycles (42 IUI, 26 IVF, and 19 ICSI) was performed. Of those cycles, 18.3% resulted in pregnancy (7% IUI, 23% IVF, and 37% ICSI), and 75% of the pregnancies resulted in a live birth (100% IUI, 83% IVF, and 57% ICSI). There was no significant difference in the outcomes when the results were stratified by type of ART and malignancy. None of the 11 infants who were born had congenital anomalies. CONCLUSION(S): Our findings emphasize the need for physicians to discuss the issue of semen cryopreservation with all men of reproductive age who have cancer before antineoplastic therapy is started.     

Cryopreservation of human semen and prepared sperm: effects on motility parameters and DNA integrity.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of cryopreservation on sperm motility and DNA integrity. DESIGN: Pre-cryopreservation and post-cryopreservation analysis of motility and DNA integrity of semen and prepared sperm samples. SETTING: A hospital andrology laboratory. PATIENT(S): Forty men attending the Regional Fertility Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland. INTERVENTION(S): Each sample was divided, and an aliquot was frozen unprepared. Remaining aliquots were prepared by Percoll density centrifugation (95.0:47.5) or direct swim-up procedure and divided into aliquots to allow direct comparison of fresh and frozen semen and prepared sperm (frozen with or without the addition of seminal plasma) from the same ejaculate. Samples were frozen by static-phase vapor cooling and being plunged into liquid nitrogen. Thawing was carried out at room temperature. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm DNA integrity was determined using a modified alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay, and motility was determined using computer-assisted semen analysis. RESULT(S): Sperm frozen unprepared in seminal fluid appeared more resistant to freezing damage than frozen prepared sperm. Further improvements can be achieved by selecting out the subpopulation of sperm with best motility and DNA integrity and freezing these sperm in seminal plasma, making this the optimal procedure. CONCLUSION(S): Freezing sperm in seminal plasma improves postthaw motility and DNA integrity.     

Novel method for the cryopreservation of testicular sperm and ejaculated spermatozoa from patients with severe oligospermia: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate Volvox globator as an easy-to-handle vehicle and as a safe alternative for cryopreservation of functional motile sperm cells. DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, clinical pilot study. SETTING: Two in vitro fertilization (IVF) outpatient clinics for reproductive medicine. PATIENT(S): Fifteen patients with severe male infertility (density <100 motile sperm per milliliter) who were recruited from two IVF programs. The sperm cells were not intended for clinical use after thawing. INTERVENTION(S): In each case, a predetermined number (n = 8) of motile and morphologically intact sperm cells were injected into each Volvox sphere and then cryopreserved. The quality of the sperm cells and the handling of the Volvox spheres were verified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Postthaw recovery rate in cases of severe male infertility and the amount of motile sperm after thawing. RESULT(S): The postthaw recovery rate was 100%. At least 60% of the sperm cells were motile after thawing. CONCLUSION(S): The use of the spherical algae Volvox globator offers a promising, inexpensive, and easy approach to the cryopreservation of functional motile sperm cells. Volvox globator is an alternative in countries that prohibit the destructive use of oocytes, even after fertilization has failed.     

Effects of ejaculatory frequency and season on variations in semen quality

OBJECTIVE: To describe the intraindividual variation in semen parameters. DESIGN: Prospective, longitudinal study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Twenty-seven healthy men, followed monthly for 16 months. INTERVENTION(S): Monthly semen samples were collected, as well as information regarding duration of abstinence, febrile episodes, and ejaculatory frequency. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm concentration, percentage immotile spermatozoa, and percentage morphologically normal spermatozoa. RESULT(S): There were no significant seasonal variations in sperm concentration, motility, or morphology. The ejaculatory frequency was significantly higher during spring compared with winter months. There was a significant difference in sperm concentration with respect to having one, two, or more than two ejaculations during a 7-day period before the abstinence period. Sperm motility and morphology were not affected by ejaculatory frequency. Duration of abstinence, ejaculatory frequency, and fever accounted only little for the high intraindividual variation in individual semen parameters. Three semen samples compared with two reduced the intraindividual variations as follows: sperm concentration from 41% to 33.5%, percentage normal spermatozoa from 6.9% to 5.7%, and percentage immotile spermatozoa from 19% to 15.5%. CONCLUSION(S): Ejaculatory frequency but not season significantly affected sperm concentration. Most of the intraindividual variations in semen parameters could not be explained by duration of abstinence, fever, or ejaculatory frequency.     

Computerized slow-staged freezing of semen from men with testicular tumors or Hodgkin's disease preserves sperm better than standard vapor freezing

Two methods of freezing semen taken from patients with testicular tumors or Hodgkin's disease before treatment were compared. Many patients already have semen abnormalities, so an optimal method is extremely important. Ejaculates from 8 patients with testicular tumors and 20 with Hodgkin's disease were frozen by fast-freezing or by slow-staged freezing. Effects of motility, viability, and swelling after thawing were significantly impaired with both methods. However, cryosurvival was better after slow- than fast-freezing: motility 24% +/- 12.4% versus 15% +/- 11.2%; viability 24.1% +/- 11.4% versus 17.3% +/- 10.4%, swelling 33.3% +/- 11% versus 27.6% +/- 12.8%. The effects were equal for normal and abnormal sperm. Sperm from tumor patients should be frozen by slow-staged freezing method in spite of the higher cost and longer time.     

精子质量分析仪(SQA)临床评估

243例正常及不正常生育力精液标本用精子质量分析仪（SpermQualityAnalyzer，U－nitdMedicalSystemsInc.SantaAna，CA）测定其精子活力指数SMI，并用常规精液分析方法（按WHO标准）测定主要精液参数，其中包括精子密度、a、b级活动精子百分率及正常形态精子。结果显示SMI与上述各项参数都有好的相关性。由于精子质量分析仪具有简便、客观、快速、可重复性等优点，可应用于不育症检查男性因素的筛选、男性不育治疗和绝育效果的随访、精子浓缩过程的评估及人工授精前的试验等。     

Prospective,randomized, blinded evaluation of donor semen quality provided by seven commercial sperm banks

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate variability in donor semen quality between seven commercial donor sperm banks, within sperm banks, and between intracervical insemination and intrauterine insemination. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, blind evaluation of commercially available donor semen samples. SETTING: An academic andrology laboratory. PATIENT(S): Seventy-five cryopreserved donor semen samples were evaluated. INTERVENTION(S): Samples were coded, then blindly evaluated for semen quality. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Standard semen quality parameters, including concentration, motility parameters, World Health Organization criteria morphology, and strict criteria morphology. RESULT(S): Significant differences were observed between donor semen banks for most semen quality parameters analyzed in intracervical insemination samples. In general, the greatest variability observed between banks was in percentage progressive sperm motility (range, 8.8 +/- 5.8 to 42.4 +/- 5.5) and normal sperm morphology (strict criteria; range, 10.1 +/- 3.3 to 26.6 +/- 4.7). Coefficients of variation within sperm banks were generally high. CONCLUSION(S): These data demonstrate the variability of donor semen quality provided by commercial sperm banks, both between banks and within a given bank. No relationship was observed between the size or type of sperm bank and the degree of variability. The data demonstrate the lack of uniformity in the criteria used to screen potential semen donors and emphasize the need for more stringent screening criteria and strict quality control in processing samples.