A new method for rapid spermatozoal concentration and motility: a multiple-exposure photography system using the Polaroid camera

Predictive value of sperm morphology and movement characteristics in the outcome of in vitro fertilization of human oocytes

One hundred fourteen semen samples from Chinese males were analyzed for routine semen parameters including the semen volume, sperm count, percentage motility, and percentage normal morphology. Of these 114 samples, 54 also had movement characteristics of seminal and swim-up sperm evaluated by the computer image analyzer system (Cellsoft; Cryo Resources Co., New York). All semen samples were subjected to the swim-up procedure to harvest the motile sperm before inseminations of human oocytes. Fertilization was considered to have occurred when at least one oocyte was observed with two or more pronuclei. Semen samples were classified as infertile (0% fertilization rate; N = 32) or fertile (greater than 0% fertilization rate; N = 82) before statistical analyses. There was a significant difference (P less than 0.005) in percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm between the fertile (mean +/- SE; 67.3 +/- 1.2%) and the infertile (59.3 +/- 2.2%) samples. The percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm correlated (r = 0.3049; P less than 0.002) with the fertilization rate and this parameter was selected by the multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis as the discriminator capable of predicting the fertilization rate with 57.9% accuracy. Statistical analyses of samples where sperm movement was also evaluated demonstrated that there was significant differences (P less than 0.01) between the fertile (N = 38) and the infertile (N = 16) samples in percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm (67.8 +/- 1.8% vs 56.2 +/- 2.6%) and curvilinear velocity of swim-up sperm (89.2 +/- 3.5 vs 68.2 +/- 7.2 microns/sec).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Assessment of sperm motion characteristics from fertile and infertile men using a fully automated computer-assisted semen analyzer

Sperm curvilinear velocity (Vc) and linearity (L) were analyzed in semen from 20 fertile men and from 53 patients with unexplained infertility by a computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA). Because the frequency distribution of Vc from patient's spermatozoa showed a nongaussian distribution, comparison of mean values of Vc and L between men with unexplained infertility and fertile men is inappropriate. As an alternative, the authors compared the cumulative distribution of the percent of cells measured at increasing intervals of Vc and L, and observed a significant difference between patients and fertile men from the level of Vc30 through Vc70 micron/sec for curvilinear velocity and L2 through L6 for linearity (P less than 0.001). Furthermore, the authors coanalyzed these two parameters at the greatest point of difference (Vc40 and L3) and observed that their patient population can be differentiated into four subpopulations of subjects accordingly to their Vc40 and L3 values. In this study, 43 of the 53 patients had a motility disorder characterized by having a higher percent of cells being substantially slower and less directional than cells from normal men. However, in some patients, motion characteristics were indistinguishable from those in normal men.

Measurement of spermatozoal motility over prolonged periods of time using image analysis

This paper presents a new method for the quantitative analysis of the movement characteristics of spermatozoa. The method is based on (i) measuring the displacement of a spermatozoon observed using a microscope and (ii) automatically compensating for the displacement of the spermatozoon in order to keep it in the center of the microscopic field. The displacement of the spermatozoon is measured by on-line processing of digitized images of the microscopic field, acquired by an image analysis system. The motility characteristics of the same spermatozoon can be evaluated over prolonged periods of time (typically 10 min). The movement characteristics of 19 spermatozoa from five fertile donors were studied. At constant temperature, intradonor variations of the motility parameters were found. No statistically significant differences were found in the mean values of the motility characteristics for three of four donors. At increasing temperature, the mean curvilinear velocity, averaged on the 19 spermatozoa from the five donors, regularly increased between 23 and 30 degrees C and remained constant up to 38 degrees C.

Interdisciplinary andrology. STDs. AIDS research

Multidisciplinary andrology deals with clinical application and modern technology for the evaluation and differential diagnosis of male infertility with emphasis on morphological, anatomical, biochemical, immunological, hereditary, and microbiological parameters. Little is known about the effects of diet, disease, stress, environmental, and drugs on male-related unexplained infertility of couples. Regional, national, and international centers of multidisciplinary andrology should provide (1) extensive and unique clinical services; (2) a computerized "patient referral center," (3) self-learning packages (slides/tape programs) for patients; and (4) a computer link to the National Library of Medicine and the Drug Information Center. Specialized laboratories and clinics can be served by expert consultants, visiting professors, bilingual and well-trained clinicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, computer operators, and related allied health personnel. Patient education pamphlets, updated every few years, can be distributed during training workshops when an extensive network of remote teleprinters can be utilized. Qualified client location may install a printer to allow on-site printing of reports in the shortest possible time. Special mailing containers are provided to clients who wish to mail their laboratory specimens. Other clinical services may include the following: 1. Central source of communication and information in andrology; 2. International roster of multidisciplinary andrology centers; 3. Patient referral to centers and consultations for developing countries; 4. Screening of husbands and wives for in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET); 5. Screening of couples with unexplained infertility for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including AIDS; 6. Exchange of research material and methodology; 7. Coordination of multicenter research; 8. Organizing training workshops for clinicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians; 9. Establishing a repository of films, video tapes, slides, catalogs, instrumentation, books, SEM photos, and atlases; 10. Publication and editorial assistance; 11. Consultation for the appropriate selection, purchase, and quality control of instrumentation (all on one computer system); 12. Evaluation of new diagnostic tools for idiopathic infertility and fertility regulation; 13.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Correlation between in vitro fertilization and human sperm density and motility

The conventional sperm characteristics of density (millions per milliliter) and motility, scored in a semi-subjective way, were correlated with results of an on-going in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program. No male infertility patients were included in this study. Individual characteristics of the "successful" ejaculates are described. Sperm densities in the original ejaculate of more than 10 X 10(6) spermatozoa/ml did not significantly improve outcome (P less than 0.01). In contrast, sperm motility seemed to play the most important role, since most pregnancies (12/14) occurred using sperm samples with greater than or equal to 60% total motility (P less than 0.001). The incidence of multipronuclear fertilization is also described and discussed. These data, which were collected during 1984 in the in vitro fertilization unit of Professor R. Schoysman and coworkers (Vilvoorde, Brussels), may help to make fertilization in vitro and embryo transfer a viable method in cases of mild male subfertility, and to provide guidance in preparing some couples for the combined use of husband and donor semen if a sufficient number of oocytes are obtained.