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Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation
Published on: November 29, 2018
Postmortem Sperm Retrieval in Hanging-Induced Mechanical Asphyxia: Probability and Temporal Dynamics
Leena Lokhande1, Raghvendra Kumar Vidua1, Ashwani Tandon2
1Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Aim:
To assess the feasibility of retrieving viable spermatozoa in hanging deaths and their correlation with post-mortem interval (PMI) and sperm quality parameters.
Settings And Design:
A descriptive observational study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, AIIMS Bhopal.
Materials And Methods:
PMSR was performed in 18 medicolegal autopsy cases involving males aged 18-49 years within 24 h of death using an in-house innovated vaso-epididymal wash technique. Sperm motility and viability were assessed using an automated semen quality analyser and the eosin dye exclusion test.
Statistical Analysis Used:
Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and Chi-square tests.
Results:
Motile sperm were recovered in 44.4% and viable sperm in 50% of cases. Mean motility and viability in positive samples were 14.5% and 29.9%, respectively. Viability stays up to 21.5 h post-mortem, peaking at 72%. No significant correlation was seen between PMI and sperm quality. A strong association between immotile and viable sperm supports a two-step degradation process, with motility loss preceding cellular death.
Conclusion:
Our results confirm the recovery of motile and viable sperm in 50% of hanging-related deaths up to 21.5 h post-mortem (peak 72%, P > 0.05), supporting the feasibility of PMSR. The findings challenge the linear model of time-dependent sperm degradation and emphasise the need for rapid processing and standardised medico-legal and ethical PMSR protocols in India.
