title: Influence of temperature and sperm preparation on the quality of spermatozoa.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of long-term (24h) in-vitro sperm incubation at room temperature (RT; 23°C) versus testis temperature (35°C) on various sperm-quality parameters. Semen samples (n=41) were prepared both by density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) and the swim-up technique in order to compare the influence of sperm preparation on sperm quality after incubation. Progressive motility and morphology were significantly higher after incubation at RT compared with 35°C (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively). The proportions of acrosome-reacted, apoptotic and dead spermatozoa were significantly lower in samples incubated for 24h at RT compared with 35°C (P<0.001, P=0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). The number of motile, morphologically normal, non-acrosome-reacted and nonapoptotic spermatozoa recovered after sperm preparation was significantly higher in DGC compared with swim-up samples (P<0.001). However, spermatozoa prepared by swim-up showed better survival after incubation compared with DGC-prepared spermatozoa, especially when incubated at 35°C. In conclusion, this study indicates a significantly better and longer preservation of sperm quality when incubation is performed at RT. These findings may convince laboratories to change the routinely used sperm storage conditions in order to maximize the quality of the prepared sperm sample.
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium. Electronic address: annelies.thijssen@uhasselt.be.
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thijssen
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Klerkx
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Carin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huyser
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ombelet
mesh_terms: D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013696:Temperature
keywords: acrosome reaction; apoptosis; flow cytometry; sperm preparation; sperm quality; temperature