Effect of thawing temperature on the motility recovery of cryopreserved human spermatozoa.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of thawing temperature on sperm function after cryopreservation. The technical aspects of sperm cryopreservation have significantly improved over the last few decades. However, a standard protocol designed to optimize sperm motility recovery after thawing has not yet been established.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Private infertility institute and university-based research laboratory.


METHODS
Eighty consenting normozoospermic patients consulting for infertility.


METHODS
Spermatozoa from donor semen samples were thawed at different temperatures.


METHODS
Sperm motility, viability, adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) content, acrosomal status, and DNA integrity were evaluated as a function of thawing temperature in cryopreserved human sperm samples.


RESULTS
Thawing at 40 degrees C resulted in a statistically significant increase in sperm motility recovery compared with thawing at temperatures between 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. There were no statistically significant differences in sperm viability, acrosomal status, ATP content, and DNA integrity after thawing at 40 degrees C compared with thawing at temperatures between 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C.


CONCLUSIONS
Sperm thawing at 40 degrees C could be safely used to improve motility recovery after sperm cryopreservation.
Calamera
Juan C
JC
Laboratorio de Estudios en Reproducción, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Buffone
Mariano G
MG
Doncel
Gustavo F
GF
Brugo-Olmedo
Santiago
S
de Vincentiis
Sabrina
S
Calamera
Maria M
MM
Storey
Bayard T
BT
Alvarez
Juan G
JG
D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D055815:Young Adult
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate