Study of human sperm motility post cryopreservation

Abstract

Background: Cryopreservation of spermatozoa is a widely used technique to preserve the fertility of males. It can also benefit the armed forces personnel who are to be sent for long recruitments, while leaving their families behind. This study, apart from studying the effects of freezing and thawing, reveals the effect of the post thaw interval on the motility of the human spermatozoa and thus widens the insemination window period.

Methods: A detailed semen analysis was carried out as per the WHO guidelines for 25 samples. The samples were then washed, analysed and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The semen samples were subsequently thawed and similarly analysed after 20 min and 40 min of thawing. This was then followed by statistical analysis of the comparative motilities.

Results: Motility of sperms is found to decrease after cryopreservation. However, the study revealed that after thawing a significant increase in the motility of the sperms was noted with the progression of time (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: By simulating conditions similar to the in vivo conditions for the post thaw semen samples, we can safely wait, confirm the parameters like motility and count, and then inseminate the samples instead of blindly inseminating them immediately after thawing.

Keywords: Cryopreservation; Motility; Spermatozoa.

Figures

Fig. 1

Makler counting chamber for counting sperms.

Fig. 2

Sperm cryopreservation buffer containing glycerol, Cook Australia Pty, Ltd.

Fig. 3

Cryovials containing the semen samples, fixed on the aluminium cryocanes, being inserted into the liquid nitrogen cans.

Fig. 4

Comparison between total number of motile and immotile sperms in the raw, post wash and post thaw samples after 20 min and 40 min of thawing.