The effects of follicular fluid and platelet-activating factor on motion characteristics of poor-quality cryopreserved human sperm.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of follicular fluid and platelet-activating factor on sperm motion characteristics of cryopreserved oligospermic and normospermic samples.


METHODS
Sperm motion characteristics were evaluated prior to cryopreservation, immediately after thawing and following incubation in human tubal fluid, follicular fluid, or 1-microM platelet-activating factor cultures. Sixteen oligospermic samples and 20 normospermic samples were examined. Sperm motion characteristics were analyzed manually according to WHO criteria (1999) and also with an automated videomicrography system.


RESULTS
Incubation in follicular fluid increased overall motility and the percentage of sperm with fast progressive motility in normospermic but not oligospermic samples. Incubation with platelet-activating factor increased overall motility and the percentage of sperm showing nonprogressive motility in both oligospermic and normospermic samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The stimulatory effects of culture in follicular fluid as seen in normospermic samples do not show a significant benefit in oligospermic cryopreserved samples. Platelet-activating factor and follicular fluid increase motility via different mechanisms. Incubation of oligospermic cryopreserved sperm with PAF increases the number of motile sperm, thereby enabling easier identification of viable sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection in samples with severe asthenozoospermia.
Briton-Jones
C
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. chrisbj@cuhk.edu.hk
Yeung
Q S
QS
Tjer
G C
GC
Chiu
T T
TT
Cheung
L P
LP
Yim
S F
SF
Lok
I H
IH
Haines
C
C
D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015571:Follicular Fluid; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa
D010972:Platelet Activating Factor