Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 3, 704-709,
March 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
The effects of cryopreservation on sperm morphology, motility and mitochondrial function
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science, Grosvenor Road and 2 Regional Fertility Centre, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BJ, Northern Ireland
BACKGROUND: The effects of cryoinjury were determined simultaneously on the mitochondrial function, motility, morphology and viability of ejaculated human sperm. METHOD: Rhodamine 123 (R123) uptake (% of sperm) and stain intensity were used to determine sperm mitochondrial activity before and after cryopreservation from the semen of 50 men attending for infertility investigation. Morphology was assessed using Tygerberg's strict criteria and viability was assessed by eosin Y. Sperm motility was measured using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). RESULTS: Freeze–thawing caused a 37% (P = 0.001) reduction in normal morphological forms of sperm. All CASA sperm motility parameters except amplitude of lateral head displacement were similarly reduced. R123 uptake and intensity within sperm mitochondria decreased by 36 and 47% respectively (both P = 0.001). In addition, there was a similar significant decrease (31%, P = 0.001) in the viability of the sperm. CONCLUSIONS: Sperm morphology, motility, mitochondrial activities and viability are equally susceptible to cryopreservation-induced damage. R123 intensity is a novel and robust indicator of mitochondrial function before and after such trauma.
Key words: cryopreservation/mitochondria/rhodamine 123 uptake/sperm
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: s.e.lewis{at}qub.ac.uk
Submitted on October 10, 2000; resubmitted on March 14, 2001
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