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Effect of freezing on the relative escape force of sperm as measured by a laser optical trap
Z N Dantas1, E Araujo, Y Tadir
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine 92613-1491.
Objective:
To determine the possible effect of freezing on sperm escape force as measured by laser trap.
Design:
Controlled clinical study.
Setting:
Normal volunteers, academic setting.
Patients:
Normal, healthy volunteers.
Intervention:
Sperm selection, freezing and thawing. Measurement of relative (sperm) escape force before and after freezing.
Main Outcome Measure:
Comparison of escape force as a measurement of freezing effects.
Results:
Wide individual variations noted, with some individuals showing significant increases or decreases. The relative escape force in fresh (76.1 +/- 31.1 mW) and in frozen-thawed samples (75.6 +/- 40.0 mW) were similar.
Conclusion:
Freezing does not affect the relative escape force of normal sperm. Any possible detrimental effect of freezing on sperm may be related to other sperm functions.