Abstract
Our study aim is to compare the efficacy of commercial sperm processing media using the straw swim up method, since they have not been scrutinized to the same extent as embryo culture media. The Straw Swim Up procedure is an application of the conventional sperm swim-up technique, to easily analyze the ability of sperm to penetrate and migrate into the medium (Hecht and Jeyendran 1993).The procedure is simple and yields quantitative data. It is inexpensive and technically simple; multiple different media can be analyzed simultaneously using a single ejaculate; two independent sperm properties can be evaluated: migration into media and survivability in media; results are quantitative. Conventional methods of mixing semen with the test medium may fail to reveal the ability of sperm to penetrate and migrate into the test medium. Labeled 0.5ml straws (Reproduction Resources; Walworth, WI 53184, Catalog #440676), were filled by aspiration to 2 cm height individually with one of four different commercial media: Sperm washing Media (Fujifilm), (Fujifilm, Santa Ana, CA. 92705, Catalog #9983); Sperm Preparation Medium (Origio), (Origio, Trumbull, CT 06611, Catalog #10690060D); SAGE QUINN’S Sperm Washing Medium (Sage), (Cooper Surgical & Genomic Solutions, Denmark, Catalog #ART-1006); and Multipurpose Handling Medium with SSS (MHM), Fujifilm, Santa Ana, CA. 92705, Catalog #90163). These four straws were dipped into just below the surface of 18 different ejaculates and held vertically for 30 minutes. The sperm qualities recovered in the 0.5mL straws were statistically analyzed using ANOVA, and the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the results are listed in Table 1.Table 1Mean ± SD Sperm Quality Recovered in the 0.5mL Straws*Commercial MediumSperm Concentration x 106/mlMedian Sperm Concentration x 106/mlPercent Sperm Motility (%)Percent Sperm Progressive Motility (%)Fujifilm11.6 ± 7.99.077.7 ± 16.664.8 ± 18.7Origio9.1 ± 8.66.583.1 ± 15.069.4 ± 19.7Sage8.5 ± 5.39.378.7 ± 14.563.4 ± 16.2MHM11.2 ± 10.57.781.5 ± 12.265.3 ± 16.9*Mean ± SD of Sperm Concentration (98.5 ±24.7 x 106/ml), Sperm Motility (60.3 ± 13.0%) and Progressive Sperm Motility (40.7 ± 15.6%) of 18 ejaculates. Open table in a new tab *Mean ± SD of Sperm Concentration (98.5 ±24.7 x 106/ml), Sperm Motility (60.3 ± 13.0%) and Progressive Sperm Motility (40.7 ± 15.6%) of 18 ejaculates. There was no statistically significant difference in the quality of sperm recovered in the straws. However, an observable difference of the recovered sperm concentration median value among the four media was noted (Table 1). Future studies may confirm the differences in the response of the sperm from different ejaculates to penetrate and migration through the various sperm media.
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