Sperm selection by PD-10 sephadex columns: comparison with SpermPrep filtration and Percoll centrifugation

The efficacy of a disposable, prepacked column (PD-10) containingSephadex G-25, to select motile spermatozoa, was compared withanother column for sperm filtration (SpermPrep) and centrifugationthrough Percoll gradients. Aliquots of washed sperm suspensionswere processed by the three techniques. The number of motilecells and the proportion of total spermatozoa selected was similarfor all methods. Recovery of spermatozoa showing optimal movementwas 145.9 ± 30% (mean ± SEM) with PD-10 columnsand 131.9 ± 32% with Percoll, both significantly higherthan SpermPrep (71.9 ± 11%; P < 0.05). The straightline velocity of motile cells was lower in samples processedby SpermPrep (29.3 ± 2 µm/s) compared to both PD-10(34.7 ± 1 µm/s) and Percoll (34.9 ± 2 µm/s;P = 0.07). When whole semen was processed, total sperm recoverywith PD-10 was 61.7 ± 8% versus 47.7 ± 7% withPercoll (P < 0.001). Percoll centrifugation improved thepercentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa more than PD-10.Similar proportions of motile spermatozoa and cells with optimalmotility were obtained by both methods. We conclude that PD-10filtration columns can be used to prepare semen in the laboratoryas a practical alternative to other methods.