Relationships between motility parameters, morphology and acrosomal status of human spermatozoa.
A total of 130 semen samples were examined for motility (by computer-assisted sperm analysis), morphology and acrosomal status. A high positive correlation was found between percentages of normal forms and progressive motility in the whole semen (r = 0.539, P < 0. 0001) as well as in the Percoll fraction (r = 0.702, P < 0.0001). Among the specific abnormalities, acrosome defects were most highly correlated with progressive motility (r = -0.492, P < 0.0001, in the Percoll fraction). The percentage of total spontaneously acrosome-reacted spermatozoa in the Percoll fraction was negatively correlated with the progressive motility (r = -0.499, P < 0.0001) and with the percentage of normal forms (r = 0.430, P < 0.0001). Surprisingly, the percentage of total spontaneously acrosome-reacted spermatozoa was poorly linked with head abnormalities but displayed significant positive correlations with the percentages of bent tails (r = 0.359, P < 0.0001) and of coiled tails (r = 0.371, P < 0.0001). These data suggest that sperm defects are often linked together, reflecting spermiogenesis and/or epididymal dysfunctions.
Parinaud
J
J
Laboratoire de Fecondation In Vitro, CHU La Grave, 31052 Toulouse Cedex, France.
Vieitez
G
G
Moutaffian
H
H
Richoilley
G
G
Milhet
P
P
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D003102:Colloids; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011205:Povidone; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
D003102:Colloids; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone