• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2006

Objective: We tested the usefulness of swim-down technique using human follicular fluid (hFF) in sperm preparation. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from twelve male partners showing asthenozoospermia (sperm motility < 50%) at the time of routine andrologic evaluation in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. After dividing into two aliquots, each samples were processed either by swim-down using 100% hFF or density gradient using SpermGrad. Sperm quality was assessed by computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA). Results: Motility, Rapid motility, VCL (curvilinear velocity), ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement), and hyperactivated sperms were significantly increased, and LIN (mean linearity) was decreased significantly after sperm preparation in both groups. Motility was significantly higher after swim-down using 100% hFF when compared with density gradient using SpermGrad ($81.2{\pm}4.7$ vs. $67.6{\pm}2.3$, p=0.02) The other parameters assessed by CASA were not different between the two methods. Conclusion: Swim-down method with 100% hFF may be a useful method in preparation of sperm from asthenozoospermia.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1998

This study was done to find optimal cryopreservation medium and method to improve the post-thaw motility of human sperm. Thirty three semaen samples were included in the study. Of these, nineteen Samples showing normal semen profile were frozen using three cryprotectants (TYB, TYB+DTT and KS II)to compare post-thaw motility. Fourteen samples were frozen with vapor freezing and programmable freezing methods to compare post-thaw motility in correlation with freezing method. After 24 hrs of cryostorage , the vials were thawed and the post-thaw sperm motility was assessed by two kinds of computer-aededsperm analysis (CASA; SAIS and Hamilton Thorn). As a result, the post-thaw motility of the KS II group was higher than the TYB or TYB+DTT group in normal semen(34.8%, 28.3% and 23.0%, respectively). In the asthenospermia group, a significantly hither post-thaw motility was observed in the KS II (18.5%) compared to those of TYB or TYB+DTT group (13.6%, 10.0%, respectively). No difference was observed between vapor freezing group and computerized freezing group in normal semen (27.8%, 33.2%, respectively) and semen group showing asthenospermia (12.8%, 12.9%, respectively). In conclusion, our results indicate that KS II medium is reliable for cryopreservation of human sperm and vapor freezing and programmable freezing were equally effective in terms of the recovery of motile spermatozoa.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine the effect of extract of Cervi pantotrichum cornu on human sperm motility, Four different types of media were prepared such as plain Ham's F-10 medium(control medium), control medium containing 0.3% bovine serum albumin(BSA)(medium A), control medium containing the extract of Cervi pantotrichum cornu aqua-acupuncture medium(medium B) and medium B containing 0.3% BSA(medium C). Human semen were washed and divided into 4 fractions and sperm were cultured in those medium for up to 72 hours at 37$^{\circ}C$ in a humidified atmosphere of 5% $CO_2$ in air. A total twenty eight semen samples including 14 normozoospermia and 14 asthenospermia were used for this study. In normozoospermia group, motility of control medium and medium A, B and C were 4.1%, 1.3%, 64.5%, and 77.1%, respectively after 24 hours of incubation, and were 0.0%, 0.0%. 8.8% and 44.9%, respectively after 48 hours of incubation. In asthenospermia group, motility of control medium and medium A, B and C were 2.0%, 2.2%, 58.3% and 85.1%, respectively after 24 hours of incubation, and decreased to 0.0%, 0.2%, 5.8% and 29.6%, respectively after 48 hours of incubation. In both groups, highest sperm motility was observed in medium C group when compared with other media. Furthermore motile sperm were found in medium C after 72 hours of incubation while no motile sperm was observed in the other media. Therefore it could be concluded that the extract of Cervi pantotrichum rornu affects on the human sperm motility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2002

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline (PF) on the conventional ICSI program undergone in severe asthenozoospermia. Method: Total 348 cycles of ICSI programs undertaken at CHA General Hospital from January, 1996 to September, 2000, were divided into two groups - injected with pentoxifylline-treated sperm (PFT, 204 cycles) or non-treated sperm (NPFT, 144 cycles) and the clinical results of PFT group were compared with those of NPFT. Results: PF-treatment on sperm increased their motility of normozoospermia and severe asthenozoospermia. Fertilization rate of PFT group was higher than those of ICSI programs undertaken using sperm of NPFT (70.6% vs. 62.9%, p<0.01). And, ET and clinical pregnancy rates of PFT were slightly higher than those of NPFT (93.1%, 44.2% vs. 90.3%, 36.2%). Conclusion: These results showed that treatment of pentoxifylline has a beneficial role on selection of viable sperm in severe asthenozoospermia.