Enhancement or initiation of testicular sperm motility by in vitro culture of testicular tissue.
OBJECTIVE
To describe different techniques of testicular tissue culture and their effect on sperm motility, mainly in cases of totally immotile spermatozoa, and to compare the effect of in vitro culture with that of motility stimulants.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Ten patients undergoing testicular biopsy for diagnostic purposes or for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.


METHODS
Dissected testicular biopsy samples and tissue blocks were cultured at 37 degrees C for up to 96 hours. Immediately after dissection, immotile testicular spermatozoa were incubated for 30 minutes in pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine.


METHODS
Sperm motility and vitality.


RESULTS
Overall, dissected samples showed improved sperm motility, which peaked within 48 hours of culture. Unlike motility, vitality declined linearly, from 56.3%+/-19% at initial assessment to 18.8%+/-11% at 96 hours. Five samples had initially immotile spermatozoa, of which four acquired motility at 48 hours. In vitro culture showed results comparable with those of incubation with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine. Culture of tissue blocks did not improve motility or vitality compared with dissected tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The motility of testicular spermatozoa was enhanced or initiated after in vitro culture. Testicular biopsy culture may be an alternative to the use of motility stimulants to obtain motile spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, particularly when oocytes are not immediately available.
Angelopoulos
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Medical Center, New York 10016, USA.
Adler
A
A
Krey
L
L
Licciardi
F
F
Noyes
N
N
McCullough
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003593:Cytoplasm; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*