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Human Reproduction, Vol. 11, No. 10, pp. 2186-2196, 1996
© 1996 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

research-article

Andrology: Studies on the development of diluents for the transportation and storage of human semen at ambient temperature

R.J. Aitken1,3, I.W. Allan1,2, D.S. Irvine1 and M. Macnamee2

1MRC Reproductive Biology Unit 37 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9EW 2Bourn Hall Clinic Bourn, Cambridgeshire CB3 7TR, UK

Correspondence: 3To whom correspondence should be addressed

Storage of human semen samples at ambient temperature for 24 h resulted in a significant loss of sperm motility from a mean 45.1±1.8% to 13.8±1.1% (n = 148). This motility loss was associated with a significant increase in the osmolality of the seminal plasma and the induction of peroxidative damage to the spermatozoa. Both of these detrimental changes could be prevented by diluting the original semen sample 1:1 with a citrate-egg yolk buffer (CYB). In the presence of this extender all aspects of semen quality were efficiently preserved for 24 h, including sperm movement, penetration of a cervical mucus substitute, the acrosome reaction and sperm-oocyte fusion. CYB extension also permitted the use of chemiluminescent tests of leukocyte contamination to be performed on semen samples stored for 24 h at ambient temperatures. As a preservation medium, CYB was found to be superior to alternative formulations lacking citrate and storage at ambient temperatures was preferable to 4°C. Significant improvements in motility retention were also observed when CYB was supplemented with pentoxifylline, although this treatment significantly stimulated peroxidative damage in the spermatozoa. However, if the pentoxifylline was combined with antioxidants then this collateral peroxidative damage could be reduced and the performance of CYB significantly enhanced. These results have implications for the design of diluents permitting the long-term storage and transportation of human semen samples at ambient temperatures.

Key words: citrate-egg yolk buffers/lipid peroxidation/pentoxi-fylline/semen storage/semen transportation


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