title: Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa: comparison of TEST-yolk buffer and glycerol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Comparison of human sperm motility, morphology, and sperm membrane integrity using two cryoprotective media, Test-yolk buffer with glycerol and glycerol alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen samples from 10 healthy donors were divided and frozen with either glycerol or a combination of glycerol and TEST-yolk buffer. Semen characteristics were evaluated before freezing and after thawing. Motility was measured at 0, 60, 120, and 180 minutes post-thaw following removal of the cryoprotectant (post-wash).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentage of motile sperm decreased significantly compared to prefreeze values in both groups. Post-thaw motility following removal of the freezing media was higher in specimens that were frozen in TEST-yolk buffer compared to those frozen in glycerol at 0 minutes (P = 0.004). Similarly, specimens cryopreserved in TEST-yolk buffer had higher sperm motility compared to aliquots that were frozen in glycerol at 180 minutes (P = 0.013). The percentage of normal sperm forms was significantly higher post-wash and post-thaw in specimens that were cryopreserved in TEST-yolk buffer (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm cryopreserved in TEST-yolk buffer had significantly better motility, morphology, and sperm membrane integrity than sperm preserved in glycerol alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallak
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wellstead
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D002021:Buffers; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004530:Egg Yolk; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D005990:Glycerol