A Method for Improvement of Sperm Quality of an Ejaculated Human Specimen Using Bovine Cervical Mucus as a Biological Filter

Abstract

A method is described for improving the quality of semen from subfertile men. Semen samples were filtered through bovine cervical mucus (collected at estrus) into spermatozoa‐free seminal plasma (from the same ejaculate following centrifugation, or from azoospermic donor ejaculates). Evaluations were performed after 2 to 4 hours of filtration at 34 C. The filtered spermatozoa found in the seminal plasma reservoir were characterized by a significant increase in the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa, higher sperm motility, and a higher percentage of living sperm. Sperm density was in the range deemed adequate for fertility. After filtration into human cervical mucus, sperm penetration tests were performed with good results, which could be improved by the addition of caffeine to the semen. This method was found to be reliable and to enable the use of the filtered spermatozoa for insemination (AIH).

Physiology and pathophysiology of the human spermatozoon: The role of electron microscopy

“…8 and 9) that appears as a small head at the light microscope (Zamboni, 1987a,b); hence the misnomer "pin-head defect" (Zaneveld and Polakoski, 19771, a misnomer that might result in the underestimating of the consequences of this abnormality. In fact, some authors still consider the condition to be deprived of biologic importance (Bergman et al, 1982). In men, the defect is not as frequent as in farm animals (for a review of the pertinent literature, see Zamboni, 1987a,b), where it constitutes a n irreversible cause of sterility as well.…”

Laboratory Efforts to Improve Motility of Human Sperm

“…31 HCM and BCM were shown to serve as a natural filter of abnormally shaped spermatozoa. 32 Based on this principle, Bergman and associates 33 developed a device for separation of sperm of good quality from an OTA specimen. Their method is as follows: A glass capillary tube (1.4 mm inner diameter, 1.5 cm long) is filled with BCM by gentle aspiration by mouth, using plastic tubing.…”