A New Optical Technique for Evaluating Collective Motility of Ram and Bull Ejaculated Spermatozoa

Abstract

A new, non-destructive, objective technique for measuring collective motility of highly-concentrated ram and bull semen is described. The principle is based on changes in the reflected light scattered by motile spermatozoa. These changes can be recorded as a continuous analog wave pattern (Reflectospermiogram-RSG) and are correlated to the intensity of the turbulent motility as evaluated subjectively with an ordinary light microscope. Ram spermatozoa have, after ejaculation, a typical motility pattern, i.e., high, stable activity for about 20 min, then a period during which the motility decreases at a constant rate, and finally, a period with a low but rather constant activity. The usefulness of the technique has been demonstrated in various types of experiments.

A computerized spectrophotometric instrumental system to determine the “vertical velocity” of sperm cells: A novel concept

“…The age-old method of sperm motility measurement is the microscopic method that essentially measures horizontal motion of the cells and this method gives only a subjective assessment of sperm motility. Subsequently several objective methods have been developed to measure sperm horizontal movement, the CASA being the most widely used one (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27). Although CASA gives multiple sperm motility parameters, their correlation with fertility potential of spermatozoa is not well defined (23)(24)(25)(26)(27).…”

“…In the present international scenario, microscopic method is the most widely used subjective method for sperm motility analysis. Subsequently, more objective methods were developed, such as light scattering method, laser beam method, multiple exposure photographic method, etc (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). But, all the available techniques consider only the ''horizontal'' velocity and there is not a single instrument available for measuring the ''vertical'' velocity of spermatozoa.…”

The relationship between ejaculated ram sperm mitochondrial protein synthesis and motility

“…The frequencies and amplitudes of these waves were measured by the multichannel-Reflectospermiograph system (RSG) at 1 min intervals as previously described by Bar-Sagie et al (1980) and Mayevsky et al (1980Mayevsky et al ( , 1983. The frequencies and amplitudes of these waves were measured by the multichannel-Reflectospermiograph system (RSG) at 1 min intervals as previously described by Bar-Sagie et al (1980) and Mayevsky et al (1980Mayevsky et al ( , 1983.…”

Relationship Between Intracellular Calcium, Energy Metabolism, and Motility of Ram Sperm

“…Collective motility was measured continuously in a plastic cuvette, using the multichannel RSG system, essentially as described earlier [2,13). The excitation light wavelength was 450 mm and the changes in reflected light were recorded continuously on an 8-channel polygraph.…”