Viability and function of human sperm in electrolyte-free cold preservation

Abstract

Objective: To assess the viability and function of human sperm in electrolyte-free cold preservation. Design: Prospective comparative study. Setting: Andrology laboratory of out hospital. Patient(s): Ten semen samples obtained from patients attending our infertility clinic. Intervention(s): Ejaculated sperm were washed using the electrolyte-free Percoll gradient and were then preserved in 0.33 M glucose solution, 0.16 M NaCl solution, 0.16 M KC1 solution at 4°C for 4 weeks. As a control, TEST (TES and Tris) yolk buffer (TYB) was added to the ejaculated semen and preserved at 4°C. Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm tail morphology, motility, viability (eosin-Y stain), and the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were analyzed. Result(s): The number of sperm with normal tail form and the motility of sperm preserved in glucose solution (electrolyte-free cold preservation) were significantly ( P < 0.01) higher for 4 weeks than those of sperm preserved in the other three media. The sperm viability in glucose solution was 75.5%, 65.4%, and 51.3%, after 1, 2, and 4 weeks, respectively. The ATP concentration after 1, 2, and 4 weeks remained 64.2%, 53.0%, and 4.3% of the prestorage value, respectively, in the sperm stored in glucose solution. Conclusion(s): The morphology, motility, viability, and ATP concentration of sperm in electrolyte-free cold preservation were substantially better than those in NaCl solution, KCl solution, or TYB for 2 weeks.