Correlation Between Human Sperm Swelling in Hypoosmotic Medium (Hypoosmotic Swelling Test) and In Vitro Fertilization

Abstract

Human ejaculates (n = 83) were analyzed for standard sperm parameters (concentration, motility, and morphology), as well as for the ability of the spermatozoa to react (swell) in a hypoosmotic medium (Jeyendran et al, 1984). Subsequently, the fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa was tested by their ability to fertilize human oocytes in vitro. Although the sperm concentration was adjusted for in vitro fertilization, no adjustments were made for sperm motility and morphology. Correlation of the in vitro fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa with the hypoosmotic swelling test (r = 0.56) was much higher than with standard sperm parameters (r varied from −0.04 to 0.25). Complete overlap was noted with standard semen parameters whether the ejaculate did or did not fertilize oocytes and ranged from very low to very high values in both cases. By contrast, all the semen samples that fertilized oocytes showed a 60% or higher reaction in the hypoosmotic swelling test, whereas the majority of the “infertile” semen samples showed less than 60% swelling. It therefore appears that, under the conditions of our studies, the hypoosmotic swelling test is a more accurate predictor of successful in vitro fertilization outcome than the conventional semen parameters. A combination of all parameters, however, is likely to be most useful. The hypoosmotic swelling test is simple and economical, and it is recommended that this test be further scrutinized for its value as an additional tool in the assessment of the in vivo fertilizing capacity of ejaculated spermatozoa.

The Hypoosmotic Swelling Test: An Update

“…Between SO and 59% HOS-positive spermatozoa is taken as a "gray" or "suspect" range and no definitive statement in regard to normal or abnormal can be made. These values were first tentatively assigned after our initial in vitro fertilization (IVF) studies [61], but the data that have'been accumulated since then confirm the validity of these cutoff values (see further). Different types of tail curling can be observed which include a bending only at the tip of the tail, bending at the hairpin curvature of the tail, a shortened and thickened tail, and finally one that involves the entire tail; i.e., the curling of the tail fibers may occur to various degrees.…”

“…The spermatozoa can be fixed with formaldehyde (18.5%, 0.1 mL) after incubation. Such fixation retains the shape of the spermatozoa so that they can be stored and observed at a later date [61]. Ejaculates are classified as normal if they contain 60% or more HOS-positive spermatozoa and abnormal if fewer than 50% of the spermatozoa are HOS positive.…”

“…Jeyendran et al [26] Chan et al [9] Spittaler and Tayler [58] Van der Ven et al [61] Van Liu et al [36] Valido Garcia et al [60] Wang et al [65] Huszar et al [24] Mordel et al [37] Coetzee et al [17] Avery et al 'With log 10 sperm concentration. Data based on infertile and fertile ejaculates, respectively, as assessed from an IVF outcome.…”

Sperm Dna Integrity: Correlation With Sperm Plasma Membrane Integrity In Semen Evaluated For Male Infertility

“…This test has been reported to correlate with sperm fertilizing potential [16,53,[58][59][60] as well as to poor implantation and high rates of spontaneous abortion [7,8,16,35,36,53].…”

An Assessment of New Sperm Tests for Male Infertility

“…17 Although simple and economical, HOS has not proven useful clinically in the assessment of the fertilizing capacity of sperm. 18 It has however been valuable in noninvasively selecting viable sperm from a nonmotile population for ICSI. 19 Conclusions Although innovative, older assays of sperm function are not widely used in clinical medicine today.…”