Morphometric and kinematic sperm subpopulations in split ejaculates of normozoospermic men.
This study was designed to analyze the sperm kinematic and morphometric subpopulations in the different fractions of the ejaculate in normozoospermic men. Ejaculates from eight normozoospermic men were collected by masturbation in three fractions after 3-5 days of sexual abstinence. Analyses of sperm motility by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA-Mot), and of sperm morphometry by computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis (CASA-Morph) using fluorescence were performed. Clustering and discriminant procedures were performed to identify sperm subpopulations in the kinematic and morphometric data obtained. Clustering procedures resulted in the classification of spermatozoa into three kinematic subpopulations (slow with low ALH [35.6% of all motile spermatozoa], with circular trajectories [32.0%], and rapid with high ALH [32.4%]), and three morphometric subpopulations (large-round [33.9% of all spermatozoa], elongated [32.0%], and small [34.10%]). The distribution of kinematic sperm subpopulations was different among ejaculate fractions (P < 0.001), with higher percentages of spermatozoa exhibiting slow movements with low ALH in the second and third portions, and with a more homogeneous distribution of kinematic sperm subpopulations in the first portion. The distribution of morphometric sperm subpopulations was also different among ejaculate fractions (P < 0.001), with more elongated spermatozoa in the first, and of small spermatozoa in the third, portion. It is concluded that important variations in the distribution of kinematic and morphometric sperm subpopulations exist between ejaculate fractions, with possible functional implications.
TECNOGAM research group, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), Department of Animal Production and Food Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain.
Pilar
P
Santolaria
Department of Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.|R+D Department, Proiser R+D, Scientific Park, University of Valencia, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
Carles
C
Soler
TECNOGAM research group, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), Departament of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences of Huesca, Plaza Universidad 3, 22002, Huesca, Spain.
Pilar
P
Recreo
TECNOGAM research group, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), Departament of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences of Huesca, Plaza Universidad 3, 22002, Huesca, Spain.
Teresa
T
Carretero
TECNOGAM research group, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), Hospital General San Jorge de Huesca, Area de Urología, Av. Martínez de Velasco, 36, 22004, Huesca, Spain.
Araceli
A
Bono
TECNOGAM research group, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), Hospital General San Jorge de Huesca, Area de Urología, Av. Martínez de Velasco, 36, 22004, Huesca, Spain.
José M
JM
Berné
TECNOGAM research group, Environmental Sciences Institute (IUCA), Department of Animal Production and Food Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain.
Jesús L
JL
Yániz
D000328:Adult; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult