Abstract
Purpose: Our purpose was to investigate whether a new, relatively hyperosmotic Percoll gradient, Enhance-S, can improve total motile sperm recovery rates compared with the commonly used Percoll gradient Perception.
Methods: Semen specimens from each of 17 donors were divided into two equal aliquots. One part was washed using Percoll Perception, while the other was prepared using Percoll Enhance-S.
Results: Compared to the unwashed specimen, sperm motion characteristics (motility and velocity) improved significantly after Percoll separation using either the Perception or the Enhance-S gradient. There was no difference in motility or velocity in spermatozoa recovered after wash with either of the two preparations. However, the total motile sperm recovery was significantly higher using the Percoll Enhance-S gradient than with the Percoll Perception gradient (P < 0.0024).
Conclusion: The new Percoll Enhance-S gradient provides significantly more total motile sperm than the Percoll Perception gradient.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rana N, Jeyendran RS, Holmgren WJ, Rotman C, Zaneveld LJ: Glass wool-filtered spermatozoa and their oocyte penetrating capacity. J Vitro Fert Embryo Transfer 1989;6:280–284
Ericsson RJ: Isolation and storage of progressively motile sperm. Andrologia 1977;9:111–114
Gorus F, Pipeleers DG: A rapid method for the fractionation of human spermatozoa according to their progressive motility. Fertil Steril 1981;35:662–665
Forster MS, Smith WD, Lee W, Berger R, Karp LE, Stenchever MA: Selection of human spermatozoa according to their relative motility and their interaction with zona-free hamster eggs. Fertil Steril 1983;40:655–660
Lopata A, Patiullo MJ, Chang A, James B: A method for collecting motile spermatozoa from human semen. Fertil Steril 1976;27:677–684
Guerin JF, Mathieu C, Lornage J, Pintail MC, Boulieu D: Improvement of survival and fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa in an IVF programme by selection on discontinuous Percoll gradients. Hum Reprod 1989;4:798–804
Sharma RK, Agarwal A: Sperm quality improvement in cryopreserved human semen. J Urol 1996;156:1008–1012
Scott L, Smith S: Mouse in vitro fertilization, embryo development and viability, and human sperm motility in substances used for human sperm preparation for assisted reproduction. Fertil Steril 1997;67:372–381
Acosta AA, Uem JV, Ackerman SB, Mayer JF, Stecker JF, Swanson RJ, Pleban P, Yuan J, Chillik C, Brugo S: Estimation of male fertility by examination and testing of spermatozoa.In In Vitro Fertilization, HW Jones, GS Jones, GD Hodgen, Z Rosenwaks (eds). Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins, 1986, pp 126–161
Aitken R, Aribarg A, Gopalkrishnan K, Hamilton D, Katz D, Mortimer D, Nieschlag E, Sekadde-Kigondu C, Wang C, Waites GMH: Collection and examination of human semen.In WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction, 3rd ed. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1992, pp 3–28
Shalika S, Dugan K, Palesh D, Padilla S: A mono-Percoll technique improves sperm recovery of normal and male factor specimens when compared with the swim-up technique. Hum Reprod 1995;10:3195–3197
Punjabi U, Gerris J, van Bijlen J, Delbeke L, Gielis M, Buytaert P: Comparison between different pre-treatment techniques for sperm recovery prior to IUI, GIFT, or IVF. Hum Reprod 1990;5:75–83
Tanphaichtir M, Millette CF, Aglunick A, Fitzgerald LM: Eggpenetration ability and structural properties of human sperm prepared by Percoll-gradient centrifugation. Gamete Res 1988;20:67–81
McClure RD, Nunes L, Tom R: Improved sperm recovery and function with a two-layer Percoll gradient. Fertil Steril 1989;51:874–877
Velasquez A, Pedron N, Delgado NM, Rosado A: Osmolaity and conductance of normal and abnormal human seminal plasma. Int J Fertil 1977;22:92–97
Arcidiacono WH, Walt H, Campana A, Balerna M: The use of Percoll gradients for the preparation of subpopulation of human spermatozoa. Int J Androl 1983;6:433–445
Jeyendren RS, Van der Ven HH, Perez-Pelaez M, Crabo BG, Zaneveld, LJD: Development of an assay to assess the functional integrity of the human sperm membrane and its relationship to other semen characteristics. J Reprod Fertil 1984;70:219–228
Velez de La Calle J: Human spermatozoa selection in improved discontinuous Percoll gradients. Fertil Steril 1991;56:737–742
Chan YM, Abuzeid M, Malcomnson J, Sasy M: Selection of human spermatozoa by a hypersomotic two-layer Percoll gradient. Fertil Steril 1994;61:1097–1102
Shelden R, Kemmann E, Bohrer M, Pasquale S: Multiple gestation is associated with the use of high sperm numbers in the intrauterine insemination specimen in women undergoing gonadotrophic stimulation. Fertil Steril 1988;49:607–610
Horvath P, Bohrer M, Shelden R, Kemmann E: The relationship of sperm parameters to cycle fecundity in superovulated women undergoing intrauterine insemination. Fertil Steril 1989;52:288–294
Comhaire F: Economic strategies in modern male subfertility treatment. Hum Reprod 1995;10:103–106
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carbone, D.J., Seifarth, K., Thomas, A.J. et al. Improved motile sperm recovery by a hyperosmotic percoll gradient. J Assist Reprod Genet 14, 394–397 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766147
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02766147