Factors affecting sperm motility. V. Washing and resuspension of human spermatozoa in various artificial media.
Fresh semen specimens from fertile donors were subjected to one-step and two-step washings in six various commonly used artificial media. It was found that washing procedures per se, in most cases, had an immediate and extended harmful effect on sperm motility which was much more prominent after the second washing. However, human albumin, when added, could usually protect spermatozoa from this deleterious effect. None of the tested media showed any stimulatory or "revitalization" effect, and the increase in sperm velocity after one washing in some of these media was attributed to a simple decrease in viscosity of the original seminal fluid. The possible mechanism of the deleterious effect of sperm washings as related to the property of the medium and some implications for practical clinical and research studies are discussed.
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*