title: Centrifugation on Percoll density gradient enhances motility, membrane integrity and in vitro fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed boar sperm.
abstract: The effects of Percoll density gradient centrifugation on sperm quality, in vitro fertilizability and developmental capacity of frozen-thawed boar sperm were evaluated. Two-step density gradient centrifugation by Percoll enhanced significantly the motility parameters of sperm compared with a simple centrifugation procedure. Percentages of motile sperm and sperm with intact plasma and acrosome membranes after Percoll separation were significantly greater than those after simple centrifugation. The rates of penetration, cleavage and blastocyst formation after in vitro fertilization were significantly improved by Percoll separation compared with simple centrifugation and were influenced positively by the intactness of sperm head membranes, but not any sperm motility parameters. However, insemination with increased concentrations of sperm prepared by Percoll gradient centrifugation did not improve the success of fertilization and embryo development in vitro. Our results indicate that the integrity of sperm head membranes after Percoll separation is important for successful embryo development in vitro, more so than sperm motility.
authors: National Institute of Animal Health,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-0856,Japan.
authors: Michiko
authors: M
authors: Noguchi
authors: National Institute of Animal Health,Kannondai 3-1-5,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-0856,Japan.
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Yoshioka
authors: National Institute of Animal Health,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-0856,Japan.
authors: Hirokazu
authors: H
authors: Hikono
authors: Hokkaido Research Organization,Shintoku,Hokkaido 081-0038,Japan.
authors: Gentaro
authors: G
authors: Iwagami
authors: National Institute of Animal Health,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-0856,Japan.
authors: Chie
authors: C
authors: Suzuki
authors: National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-8602,Japan.
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011205:Povidone; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone
keywords: Acrosomal membrane; In vitro fertilization; Plasma membrane; Sperm motility