Effect of isolation by albumin density gradients on ultrastructure of human spermatozoa.
Unlike results with glass wool filtration, based on identical criteria, no evidence was observed in this study for induced ultrastructural damage to the cell membrane and acrosome of heads of spermatozoa during isolation by the albumin density gradient technique. To the contrary, significant numbers of ultrastructurally abnormal spermatozoa were screened out of populations, as were spermatozoa with obvious light-microscopic abnormalities. There was no correlation, however, between structural abnormalities noted with light or electron microscopy and spermatozoal swimming ability. Reduced fertility with inseminated isolated spermatozoa most likely would be due to the tremendous loss (91%) of motile cells rather than cellular injury by the albumin gradient procedure.
D000418:Albumins; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D000418:Albumins