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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Reprod Sci / Assessment of sperm quality: a flow cytometric approach.
Animal reproduction science2001; 68(3-4); 239-247; doi: 10.1016/s0378-4320(01)00160-9

Assessment of sperm quality: a flow cytometric approach.

Abstract: For many years, scientists have sought to develop laboratory assays that accurately predict the fertilizing capacity of a semen sample. This goal, however, has proven elusive and will most likely be very difficult to achieve, due to the complex nature of the problem. Part of the problem results from the many attributes that a spermatozoon must possess to fertilize an egg, and how laboratory assays can evaluate all of these attributes simultaneously. The percentage of motile sperm in a sample is most commonly used to evaluate semen quality. This assay, however, is not highly correlated with the fertilizing capacity of semen samples. One reason motion assays do not correlate well with fertility is that we are evaluating only one of many attributes that a sperm must possess to fertilize an oocyte. One of the problems of measuring multiple sperm attributes is the time and cost required. Using flow cytometric assays, multiple sperm attributes, including cell viability, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial function, can be measured simultaneously in sperm cells. In addition, the ability of sperm to undergo capacitation and the acrosome reaction, as well as the chromosomal integrity of sperm can be measured using flow cytometry. Flow cytometry permits us to evaluate 50,000 sperm in less then 1 min and at reasonable cost. Although flow cytometry is a powerful tool for evaluating many sperm attributes, it cannot evaluate all of the attributes a sperm cell requires to fertilize an oocyte. Therefore, laboratory assays are also being developed to evaluate the ability of sperm: (1) to bind to the oocyte, by evaluating the ability of sperm to bind to the perivitelline membrane of the hen egg in vitro; (2) to undergo an acrosome reaction in vitro, after treatment with membrane destabilizing compounds; and (3) to penetrate oocytes in vitro. When data from multiple sperm assays are used, higher correlations with the fertilizing potential of a semen sample is achieved. For example, in a study conducted utilizing five stallions, the percentage of motile sperm in semen samples correlated poorly with fertility (r(2)=0.22), however, when data for sperm motility, viability and penetration rates into zona-free hamster oocytes were utilized together, these data explained 72% of the differences in the fertility of the stallions (r=0.849; [Theriogenology 46 (1996) 559]). Armed with a battery of tests, which evaluate many different sperm attributes, researchers should be able to more accurately estimate the fertilizing potential of semen samples.
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Publication Date: 2001-12-18 PubMed ID: 11744268DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4320(01)00160-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study investigates the use of flow cytometry as a method for accurate prediction of the sperm’s fertilizing capacity. It evaluates various sperm attributes, including cell viability, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial function, as well as other factors such as sperm binding ability and acrosome reaction.

Details of the Research Study

  • The study is initiated based on the need for reliable laboratory assays that can predict a semen sample’s fertilizing capacity. This requirement is complex due to the several attributes sperm must have to fertilize an egg.
  • While the sperm’s motility is a common factor for assessing its quality, this study points out that it isn’t a very accurate parameter, as it pertains to only one characteristic of the multiple attributes necessary for fertilization.
  • The research emphasizes taking an all-inclusive approach, considering it’s time-consuming and costly to measure multiple sperm attributes. Here is where flow cytometry comes into the picture. This technique allows the simultaneous measurement of numerous sperm characteristics such as cell viability, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial function.

Importance of Flow Cytometry

  • The application of flow cytometry in sperm quality assessment is considered efficient in this study due to its capability of testing 50,000 sperm cells within a minute, providing a cost-effective solution.
  • The study elucidates that while flow cytometry is a robust tool, it cannot assess every attribute necessary for a sperm cell to fertilize an egg. Hence, the need for other laboratory assays that evaluate the ability of sperm to bind to the oocyte and penetrate it in vitro are also significant.

Conclusion of the Research

  • The findings highlight that the use of multiple sperm assays leads to higher correlations with a semen sample’s fertilizing potential. This assessment was grounded on an experiment using five stallions, where data on sperm motility, viability, and penetration rates into zona-free hamster oocytes were collectively analyzed.
  • The consolidated data was found to explain 72% of the differences in the fertility of the stallions. Thus, with a set of tests that evaluate multiple sperm attributes, the study concludes that researchers might get closer to accurately estimating semen samples’ fertilizing potential.

Cite This Article

APA
Graham JK. (2001). Assessment of sperm quality: a flow cytometric approach. Anim Reprod Sci, 68(3-4), 239-247. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-4320(01)00160-9

Publication

Animal reproduction science
ISSN: 0378-4320
NlmUniqueID: 7807205
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 68
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 239-247

Researcher Affiliations

Graham, J K
  • Department of Physiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. jkgraham@colostate.edu

MeSH Terms

  • Acrosome / physiology
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cricetinae
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry / methods
  • Flow Cytometry / veterinary
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / physiology
  • Sperm Capacitation / physiology
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / physiology

Citations

This article has been cited 25 times.
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