A new method for the purification of human motile spermatozoa applying density-gradient centrifugation: polysucrose media compared to Percoll media

  • J Assist Reprod Genet. 1997 Nov;14(10):624-8. doi: 10.1023/a:1022545121367.
C Y Andersen  1 ,  J Grinsted
Affiliations
  • 1. Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Juliane Marie Center for Children, Women and Reproduction, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark.
PMID: 9447466 DOI: 10.1023/a:1022545121367
Abstract

Purpose: A newly developed method for the isolation of human motile spermatozoa using density-gradient centrifugation was compared with the traditionally used Percoll technique.

Method: Sperm samples were divided into two equal aliquots, which were purified with either the traditionally performed Percoll technique or a new alternative based on polysucrose/Optiprep media. For each sample the isolation was performed during the same run of the centrifuge.

Results: The average recovery of progressively motile spermatozoa with the polysucrose/Optiprep method was significantly higher (48 +/- 7%) than with the Percoll method (38 +/- 6%) (n = 18). The average percentage of motile spermatozoa and the motility score were similar in the purified preparations.

Conclusions: The new polysucrose/Optiprep-based density-gradient centrifugation technique for the isolation of motile human spermatozoa is as good as the traditionally used Percoll method and may replace it in connection with assisted reproduction techniques.

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