Zona pellucida binding improvement effect of different sperm preparation techniques is not related to changes in sperm motility characterizations.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relation between changes in sperm motion characteristics and sperm binding capacity to the zona pellucida (ZP) after different sperm preparation techniques.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Andrology laboratory at the Lis Maternity Hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-three infertile men.


METHODS
In vitro preparation of 57 sperm samples by pentoxifylline (PTX), 38 samples by SpermPrep I (SP1), and 27 samples by mini-Percoll (mPER). Sperm preparation was evaluated in comparison with the control washing technique.


METHODS
Motility variables and binding capacity.


RESULTS
Binding capacity after PTX, SP1, and mPER preparation methods was significantly higher compared with the control medium preparation. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) of sperm motility revealed a significant increase in a number of variables after the different treatments. A statistically significant but low correlation was observed between sperm binding capacity after control swim-up preparation and VAP (r = 0.27) as well as with VSL (r = 0.30). No significant correlations were found between the changes in the CASA and the improved sperm binding to the ZP.


CONCLUSIONS
The two biologic effects of binding capacity enhancement and motility features improvement are not related. Furthermore, because the binding assay is highly correlated with fertilization capacity, these alterations in motility, as evidenced by CASA, probably have a minor effect on fertilization in vitro.
Yogev
L
L
Institute for the Study of Fertility, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Gamzu
R
R
Botchan
A
A
Hauser
R
R
Paz
G
G
Yavetz
H
H
D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000502:physiology*
D010431:Pentoxifylline