title: Sperm Selection Using Three Semen Processing Techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the efficiency, in terms of recovered motile spermatozoa with normal morphology, of three sperm selection techniques: migration- sedimentation (SS), swim-up from fresh semen (SF), and swim-up from washed (SL) sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from 20 normozoospermic men were divided into three equal aliquots and processed in parallel. SS was performed in a Jondet tube, using 1 ml of semen and 2.5 ml of Human Tubal Fluid medium (HTF+10% Synthetic Serum Supplement, Irvine, USA). For SF, 1 ml of HTF was layered over 1 ml of fresh semen (SF). For SL, 1 ml of sperm was first centrifuged (300 g, 10 min) and the pellet resuspended in 1 ml of HTF; a second layer of HTF was placed on top. Migration time was 1h (SF and SL) and 1h30' for SS at 37°C. After migration, 200 μl were removed from the top layer (SF, SL) and from the central cone (SS). Concentration, morphology and motility were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recovery rates were 25% for SS, 10.1% for SF and 4.5% for SL. SS recovery rate was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the two swim-up techniques. Total motility was statistically different (P<0.001), with 93.6% for SS, 91.2% for SF, and 77% for SL. Sperm morphology was similar between the three techniques (P= 0.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SS is an efficient technique for the recovery of motile spermatozoa from native semen preparations and yielded better results than SF and SL. Routine use for assisted reproduction remains to be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: University of Vale do Itajai (UNIVALI), Itajai, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Berkenbroch
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: University of Vale do Itajai (UNIVALI), Itajai, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela da Cunha
authors.initials: Dda C
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.affiliation: University of Vale do Itajai (UNIVALI), Itajai, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Schuchowsky
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: University of Vale do Itajai (UNIVALI), Itajai, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Alonso
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: Fondation F.A.B.E.R., Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alfred Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frajblat
authors.affiliation: University of Vale do Itajai (UNIVALI), Itajai, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera Lucia Lângaro
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Amaral
keywords: Assisted reproduction; Migration-sedimentation; Sperm preparation; Sperm selection