Comparison of various methods of processing human cryopreserved-thawed semen samples

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Sperm Cryopreservation
• Sperm Processing Techniques

Background:

• Cryopreservation and thawing of spermatozoa can impair sperm function.
• Assessing sperm quality after processing is crucial for assisted reproductive technologies.
• Sperm stress test (SST) and motion analysis are key indicators of sperm functionality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of different sperm processing methods after cryopreservation.
• To evaluate the impact of processing on sperm quality using SST and motion parameters.
• To determine the optimal method for recovering functionally adequate spermatozoa.

Main Methods:

• Cryopreserved donor semen samples were processed using five methods: direct Percoll, Percoll with one-step or stepwise washing, and one-step or stepwise washing alone.
• Sperm quality was assessed by sperm stress test (SST), viability, and motion parameters immediately and after 6 hours of incubation.
• Statistical analysis was performed to compare the outcomes of different processing techniques.

Main Results:

• Percoll processing significantly enhanced sperm quality, including higher SST scores and improved motility parameters, compared to wash-only methods.
• Direct Percoll processing yielded the highest number of motile spermatozoa and superior SST scores.
• One-step washing demonstrated comparable recovery to stepwise washing, with better viability and maintained motility, suggesting its potential as a preferred method.

Conclusions:

• Percoll-based sperm processing significantly improves the quality of cryopreserved-thawed spermatozoa.
• Direct Percoll processing is highly effective in recovering motile spermatozoa with superior functional quality.
• One-step washing presents a viable and potentially more efficient alternative to stepwise washing for processing thawed sperm samples.