3D+t Multifocal Imaging Dataset of Human Sperm

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Biophysics
• Data Science

Background:

• Traditional human fertility assessments often rely on 2D sperm motility or static morphology, limiting dynamic analysis.
• Understanding dynamic 3D sperm movement is essential for accurate fertility evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the 3D+t Multifocal Imaging Dataset of Human Sperm (3D-SpermVid).
• To provide a comprehensive dataset for analyzing 3D sperm flagellar motility over time.
• To facilitate advancements in male fertility diagnostics and understanding sperm behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multifocal imaging (MFI) with a piezoelectric focus adjustment system.
• Recorded 121 video-microscopy hyperstacks of human sperm under capacitating and non-capacitating conditions.
• Captured sperm movement in a volumetric space to enable 3D+t analysis.

Main Results:

• Established a novel dataset (3D-SpermVid) of human sperm dynamics.
• Enabled detailed observation of 3D sperm flagellar motility patterns.
• Provided data for deep learning applications to uncover hidden motility patterns.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-SpermVid dataset offers significant potential for advancing male fertility research.
• Facilitates the development of novel diagnostic tools for assessing sperm function.
• Supports deeper understanding of sperm capacitation and navigation mechanisms.