Sperm quality after density gradient centrifugation with three commercially available media: a controlled trial.

Helena Malvezzi,Adel M Abuzenadah,Rakesh Sharma,Muhammad Abu-Elmagd,Ashok Agarwal

doi:10.1186/1477-7827-12-121

Abstract

BackgroundDensity gradient is the preferred technique for sperm processing for ART. However, no study has examined sperm quality using different processing media simultaneously and under identical conditions. Therefore, we evaluated semen quality following sperm preparation by three commonly used commercially available density gradient media in a well-designed controlled trial.MethodsWe obtained semen samples from 20 healthy volunteers. Percent motility, total motile sperm (TMS), % recovery and DNA damage were assessed before and after separation in three different sperm density gradient media-PureCeption, ISolate and SpermGrad-125.ResultsPercent motility was higher in the ISolate (81.4% ± 6.6%) and SpermGrad-125 samples (85.7% ± 8.0%) (P < 0.0001) than in the PureCeption samples (62.5% ± 13.2%) (P = 0.07). TMS was higher in the PureCeption(TM) and ISolate samples (14.2% ± 15.9% and 15.8% ± 18.2%) than in those prepared with SpermGrad-125 (10.6% ± 19.7%) (P < 0.0001). Percent recovery was significantly higher in the PureCeption(TM) and ISolate samples (45.3% and 48.9%) than in the SpermGrad-125(TM) samples (30.8%) (P < 0.01). DNA fragmentation was comparable across the three gradients (PureCeption = 8.8% ± 4.7%; ISolate = 7.2 ± 5.2% and SpermGrad-125 = 11.2% ± 7.4%).ConclusionsThree different density gradient processing media PureCeption, ISolate, and SpermGrad-125 were examined for their effects on sperm quality. Sperm processed by ISolate and Sperm Grad 125 had better motility and TMS after processing. The extent of DNA damage was comparable in all three gradients.

Highlights

Density gradient is the preferred technique for sperm processing for ART
Sperm preparation can be accomplished using a number of techniques such as simple wash, swim-up and density gradient [5,6], research shows that the latter consistently produces samples of the highest quality required for intrauterine insemination and for in vitro fertilization (IVF), which explains why it is the preferred processing method [7,8,9,10,11,12,13]
Sperm motility We found significant differences in percent motility between pre-wash and prepared samples for samples prepared by ISolate (P < 0.0001) and SpermGrad-125 (P < 0.0001), while the increase in percent motility for PureCeption was milder and without statistical significance (P = 0.07)

Summary

Introduction

Density gradient is the preferred technique for sperm processing for ART. Sperm preparation by density gradient centrifugation separates sperm cells based on their density. Normal and abnormal spermatozoa have different densities. The resulting interphases between seminal plasma and the 40% upper layer, containing the leukocytes, cell debris and 40% and 80% containing morphologically abnormal sperm with poor motility are discarded. Sperm preparation can be accomplished using a number of techniques such as simple wash, swim-up and density gradient [5,6], research shows that the latter consistently produces samples of the highest quality required for intrauterine insemination and for in vitro fertilization (IVF), which explains why it is the preferred processing method [7,8,9,10,11,12,13]

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