Sensitivity of human spermatozoa to various isolation procedures: differences in relation to sperm counts
Singer, R.; Barnet, M.; Allalouf, D.; Chowers, I.
International Journal of Fertility 24(1): 33-38
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-725X PMID: 37177 Document Number: 143165
The sensitivity of human spermatozoa from oligospermic and normospermic semen samples to manipulations in the course of isolation by generally used procedures was examined. Protein and DNA were estimated in spermatozoa isolated by procedures differing in rigorousness (washings with Ringer's buffer and a medium containing ficoll) and microscopic examinations of washed sediments. The washed sediments contained, in addition to spermatozoa, materials containing protein and DNA, possibly deriving from the breakage of sperm cells. These materials increase in amount with the decrease of original sperm counts. Abnormal spermatozoa, whose percentage usually increases with the severity of oligospermia, may be more sensitive to damage than the normal ones.