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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Mouse Sperm Cryopreservation and Recovery using the I·Cryo Kit
Published on: December 12, 2011
Effects of magnetic-activated cell sorting on sperm motility and cryosurvival rates
Tamer M Said1, Sonja Grunewald, Uwe Paasch
1Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of magnetic-activated cell sorting in cryopreservation-thawing protocols on sperm motility and cryosurvival rate.
Design:
Prospective-controlled study.
Setting:
Andrology department at a university-based medical institution.
Patient(S):
Ten healthy volunteer sperm donors.
Intervention(S):
Sperm populations were separated using annexin-V magnetic-activated cell sorting before and after the cryopreservation-thawing process.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Sperm motility and cryosurvival rate.
Result(S):
Annexin-negative sperm separated by magnetic-activated cell sorting had statistically significantly higher motility following cryopreservation-thawing than sperm that were not separated. Similarly, annexin-negative spermatozoa also had higher cryosurvival rate than sperm cryopreserved without magnetic-activated cell sorting and sperm that were annexin-positive.
Conclusion(S):
Superparamagnetic annexin V-conjugated microbeads can separate spermatozoa with externalized phosphatidylserine, which is considered one of the early features of late apoptosis. The separation of a distinctive population of nonapoptotic spermatozoa with intact membranes may optimize the cryopreservation-thawing outcome. Magnetic-activated cell sorting using annexin-V microbeads enhances sperm motility and cryosurvival rates following cryopreservation.
