Comparison between a swim-up and a Percoll gradient technique for the separation of human spermatozoa |
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Authors: | EVA ÅKERLÖF B FREDRICSON O GUSTAFSSON A LUNDIN† N O LUNELL L NYLUND L ROSENBORG Å POUSETTE |
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Institution: | Department of Clinical Chemistry, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden. |
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Abstract: | Two methods of separating human sperm were compared using twenty-two semen samples. The sperm were separated by a swim-up technique or by self-migration on a Percoll gradient followed by medium change. After separation, the sperm obtained were assessed for progressive motility, ATP content, energy charge index (ATP + 0.5 ADP]/ATP + ADP + AMP]) and morphology. In general, and especially for semen samples containing less than 20 X 10(6) sperm/ml, separation by Percoll gradient selected sperm that were superior to those separated by the swim-up technique. The relatively high energy charge index (greater than 0.8) showed that the sperm tolerated the separation conditions well. It is suggested that self-migration on a Percoll gradient should prove useful for obtaining sperm of high quality. |
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Keywords: | spermatozoa swim-up technique Percoll gradients sperm motility morphology ATP content energy charge index |
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