Glass wool column filtration versus mini-Percoll gradient for processing poor quality semen samples.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the quality and number of spermatozoa recovered from laboratory-induced severe oligozoospermic specimens processed by mini-Percoll gradient and glass wool column filtration.

DESIGN

Both sperm-processing procedures were compared in similar sperm samples adjusted to contain equal low numbers of motile spermatozoa using either dilution (oligozoospermia) or with the addition of killed sperm (oligoasthenozoospermia). The spermatozoa processed by both procedures samples were evaluated for motility, response to hypo-osmotic swelling test, and the hemizona assay.

PATIENTS

Five healthy fertile sperm donors.

SETTING

Private Andrology Laboratory and University Hospital.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Sperm motility, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and hemizona assay results determined the efficacy of the sperm-processing procedures.

RESULTS

The concentration of sperm recovered after both procedures was not affected by either preparation or processing methods. Glass wool-processed sperm had higher motility in oligoasthenozoospermic samples, bound tightly to hemizonae in higher mean numbers, and demonstrated a higher percentage of membrane-intact spermatozoa in oligozoospermic samples.

CONCLUSION

Laboratory-prepared oligozoospermic samples subjected to glass wool filtration yielded more functionally intact spermatozoa than mini-Percoll gradient processing.