title: Centrifugal elutriation: separation of spermatogenic cells on the basis of sedimentation velocity.
abstract: Various types of cells from the testes of mice and hamsters were separated according to differences in sedimentation velocity by centrifugal elutriation, a counterflow centrifugation technique. Approximately 3 times 10(8) cells, prepared from six mouse testes or from one hanster testis, were separated into 11 fractions in less than two hours as compared to the 4--5 hours required for sedimentation at unit gravity ("Staput"). Fractions enriched in elongated spermatids and spermatozoa (100%), stages 1--8 spermatids (69%) and pachytene spermatocytes (58%) were obtained from mouse testis dispersions. Similarly enriched fractions were obtained from hamster cells. A single fraction enriched in stages 1--8 spermatids (mouse) was prepared in less than 30 minutes. As many as 2 times 10(9) cells were separated in a single procedure. Spermatogenic cells exhibited no evidence of structural damage with trypan blud and phase microscopy, and recovery was essentially 100%. Centrifugal elutriation had no effect on sperm motility or on the plating efficiency of CHO cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods*; D006224:Cricetinae; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology; D013090:Spermatocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*