Selection of human spermatozoa according to their relative motility and their interaction with zona-free hamster eggs

Human spermatozoa were separated according to their motility by centrifuging semen on discontinuous Percoll gradients. Fractions of the gradients were examined for sperm motility, velocity, viability, morphology, bacteria, and sperm function using the hamster ova sperm penetration assay. The percentage of motile sperm increased from 40% to 60% motile sperm in 60% Percoll to 90% to 100% Percoll. Sperm velocity increased proportionately. Staining showed that greater than 90% of sperm in the 100% Percoll were alive and had normal morphology, and that only sperm cells were found in Percoll concentrations greater than 80%. Sperm isolated in the 80% to 100% Percoll fractions penetrated hamster ova much more frequently than sperm found in the 60% to 70% fractions or than sperm that had not been separated on a Percoll gradient.