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Effects of cryopreservation on sperm parameters and ultrastructural morphology of human spermatozoa

  • Andrology
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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Cryopreservation of sperm is a widely used technique to maintain and protect the fertility in various occasions such as infertility and malignancy treatments. This study aims to reveal the effects of freezing and thawing on human spermatozoa.

Materials and methods

To evaluate the effects of freeze–thawing, semen samples were evaluated by light microscopy by means of morphology, motility and viability, by scanning and transmission electron microscopy for detailed ultrastructural changes.

Results

After cryopreservation, a significant decrease in spermatozoa viability was observed (p < 0.01). Group a, b and c motility according to World Health Organization criteria decreased considerably (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively), whereas there was a substantial increase in group d motility. A strong correlation between rise in number of immotile spermatozoa and decrease in viability was also noted (r = −0.848, p < 0.01). Post-thaw light microscopic studies revealed a considerable decrease in rate of normal spermatozoa (p < 0.05). A considerable decline in the rate of normal sperm was also observed by TEM (p < 0.05). Statistically, acrosomal changes and subacrosomal swelling were found to be significantly increased (both p < 0.05), where the latter appears to be a novel finding in literature.

Conclusion

Cryopreservation has deleterious effects on spermatozoa, especially on plasmalemma, acrosomes and tails. Electron microscopy is the ultimate modality to investigate spermatogenic cells.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Ankara University Scientific Research Projects with the project number of 2003-08-09-166.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assisted Reproduction Center, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey

    Sinan Ozkavukcu

  2. Department of Histology and Embryology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey

    Esra Erdemli & Sercin Karahuseyinoglu

  3. Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Hospital, IVF Centre, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayca Isik

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Derya Oztuna

Authors
  1. Sinan Ozkavukcu
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  2. Esra Erdemli
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  3. Ayca Isik
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  4. Derya Oztuna
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  5. Sercin Karahuseyinoglu
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Correspondence to Sinan Ozkavukcu.

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Capsule This manuscript enlightens the ultrastructural cryo-injury mechanisms of human spermatozoa with supplementary novel acrosomal pathologies, revealing correlations between different sperm parameters following cryopreservation.

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Ozkavukcu, S., Erdemli, E., Isik, A. et al. Effects of cryopreservation on sperm parameters and ultrastructural morphology of human spermatozoa. J Assist Reprod Genet 25, 403–411 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9232-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9232-3

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