Evaluation of the semi-automated Autosperm**Autosperm, Amsaten N.V.S.A. Corp., De Pinte, Belgium.semen analysis system. II. Comparison with conventional method, time-exposure photomicrography, and automated CellSoft††CellSoft, Cryo Resources Ltd., New York, New York.system‡‡Supported by research grants 336/041/0020 and 336/043/0022 from the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong and the Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Application of the upgraded image superimposition system (SIAS) to the assessment of sperm kinematics

Dedicated software for semiautomatic objective motility assessment, based on image superimposition (SIAS), was upgraded in order to allow automatic reading of sperm tracks whilst keeping the advantages of visual check instead of the digital images of classic computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) systems. The new system is very fast and accurate and allows an excellent reading of sperm motility in standard semen analysis. Moreover, using this system, an attempt was made to define numerically straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL) and linearity (LIN) in each WHO sperm motility class. At 21 frames sec-1, ROC curves analysis determined the following: Class 1 (typical of WHO grade 'a'): VSL > or = 23 microns sec-1 and LIN > or = 0.58; class 2 (typical of WHO grade 'b'): VSL > 10 and < 23 microns sec-1 and LIN > or = 0.58; class 3: VSL > 10 microns sec-1 and LIN < 0.58 (this additional class was added to differentiate nonstraight progressive motility from classes 1 and 2); class 4 (typical of WHO grade 'c'): VSL < or = 10 microns sec-1. The numerical definition of sperm motility classes may contribute towards standardization in the objective evaluation of sperm kinematics.

Comparative study on the use of human follicular fluid or egg yolk medium to enhance the performance of human sperm in the zona-free hamster oocyte penetration assay

A prospective study was conducted on 61 unselected semen samples from infertile patients to compare the efficacy of human follicular fluid (hFF) or TEST-egg yolk medium treatment in enhancing sperm performance in the zona-free hamster oocyte penetration (HOP) test. Both hFF and TEST-egg yolk enhanced penetration scores significantly in the HOP test in comparison with the control swim-up sperm preparation. The TEST-egg yolk medium treatment, however, exhibited the highest penetration scores, and there were higher percentages of preparations passing the 10 or 20% penetration rate cut-off point with sperm exposed to the TEST-egg yolk medium than those exposed to hFF. These results indicate that modification of the original HOP-test protocol by incorporation of TEST-egg yolk medium gives a greatly increased penetration rate when compared to the addition of hFF in such a system.

Comparison of characteristics of human spermatozoa selected by the multiple-tube swim-up and simple discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation

The multiple-tube swim-up (MT-SU) and simple, discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation are two recent methods for the processing of human spermatozoa for assisted reproductive technologies. The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of these two methods on various parameters of spermatozoal qualities of normospermic semen samples. Both methods were found to select spermatozoa of better percentage motility, percentage normal morphology, viability, functional integrity of plasma membrane, movement characteristics including the curvilinear velocity, linearity of movement and head beat frequency, and in vitro fertilizing capacity with comparable degree of efficacy. It is concluded that both methods are effective for the separation of spermatozoa from normospermic semen samples for use in infertility treatment.