title: Rotational dynamics of optically trapped human spermatozoa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Optical trapping is a laser-based method for probing the physiological and mechanical properties of cells in a noninvasive manner. As sperm motility is an important criterion for assessing the male fertility potential, this technique is used to study sperm cell motility behavior and rotational dynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  An integrated optical system with near-infrared laser beam has been used to analyze rotational dynamics of live sperm cells from oligozoospermic and asthenozoospermic cases and compared with controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The linear, translational motion of the sperm is converted into rotational motion on being optically trapped, without causing any adverse effect on spermatozoa. The rotational speed of sperm cells from infertile men is observed to be significantly less as compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinguishing normal and abnormal sperm cells on the basis of beat frequency above 5.6 Hz may be an important step in modern reproductive biology to sort and select good quality spermatozoa. The application of laser-assisted technique in biology has the potential to be a valuable tool for assessment of sperm fertilization capacity for improving assisted reproductive technology.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721 302, India.
authors.forename: Elavarasan
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2610-744X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Subramani
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, India.
authors.forename: Himanish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721 302, India.
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thangaraju
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai 400 012, India.
authors.forename: Sucheta
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5287-7160
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dandekar
authors.affiliation: Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, India.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal 721 302, India.
authors.forename: Koel
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8739-5110
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaudhury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*