Supplementation of biotin to sperm preparation medium increases the motility and longevity in cryopreserved human spermatozoa

Purpose

To study the effect of supplementing biotin to sperm preparation medium on the motility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa.

Methods

Semen samples of men attending the University infertility clinic (n?=?105) were cryopreserved using glycerol-egg yolk-citrate buffered cryoprotective medium in liquid nitrogen. After a period of two weeks, the semen samples were thawed and the motile spermatozoa were extracted by swim-up technique using Earle’s balanced salt solution (EBSS) medium supplemented with either biotin (10 nM) or pentoxifylline (1 mM). The post-wash motility was observed up to 4 h after incubation.

Results

Both biotin and pentoxifylline supplementation resulted in significant increase in total motility (p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?p?ConclusionsBiotin can enhance the sperm motility and prolong the survival of frozen-thawed semen samples which may have potential benefit in assisted reproductive technology field.