Sperm Motility Analyzer (SMA), a practical tool of motility and cell concentration determinations in artificial...

A description of a new instrument, which analyzed objectively sperm cell concentration and collective motility of a fresh semen sample of bull or ram, is reported. A display read-out of sperm cell concentration for an aliquot of the undiluted semen sample in the range from 200 x 10(6) to 4000 x 10(6) cell/ml with an accuracy of +/- 5% is shown immediately by optical density units. A significant correlation coefficient (0.918, p < 0.01) was obtained between these units and cell concentrations, as determined in four A.I. centers in the U.S. and Canada. The intensity of the sperm collective motility is expressed as an objective index (SMI) which was significantly correlated to the fraction of the live motile cells in the semen sample. The SMI values were corrected for a possible error originating from the difference in sperm cell concentration by an empirical equation. Due to the accuracy, repeatability and objectivity of evaluating the semen quality and also the simplicity of operation, as well as the possibility of utilizing the measured semen sample for further processing, the Sperm Motility Analyzer (SMA) seems suitable as a standard tool for semen quality control in the A.I. centers.