Effect of glass wool filtration on ultrastructure of human spermatozoa.

The results of this study strongly suggest that filtration by glass wool can induce damage to the membrane and acrosome of the heads of some spermatozoa in a population. It is possible that the potential fertilizing capacity of a population of human spermatozoa may be reduced as a consequence of these alterations, especially those to the acrosome. The results suggest that sufficient clinical applications of glass wool filtration in artificial insemination is the only way to evaluate both the potential benefits of this process and the potential drawbacks to efficiency that may be caused by a degree of ultrastructural damage.