Sperm penetration in capillary tubes with albumin-Ringer solutions.

Linear penetration of sperm from 65 different semen samples was investigated in Ringer solutions containing 1%, 3%, and 6% bovine albumin and in cervical mucus by use of the capillary tube test. A high degree of correlation was observed between the penetration distances recorded in the Ringer-albumin solutions, particularly in the 3% and the 6% solutions, as compared with those observed in cervical mucus. The relative number of spermatozoa with abnormal configuration was found to be markedly lower in the upper segment of the tubes, indicating a relationship between propulsive motility and normal morphology.