Long-term cryostorage of sperm in a human sperm bank does not damage progressive motility concentration

Leah Yogev*, Sandra E. Kleiman, Esther Shabtai, Amnon Botchan, Gedalia Paz, Ron Hauser, Ofer Lehavi, Haim Yavetz, Ronni Gamzu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of quarantined cryopreserved semen is mandatory in donor insemination programs. Whether sperm cells can survive and retain their ability to fertilize after long-term storage remains a controversial issue. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the duration of cryostorage in liquid nitrogen on the sperm cells' progressive motility concentration (PMC) in a large study group.METHODSA total of 2525 thawed sperm specimens, packed in straws and donated by 72 sperm bank donors for intrauterine insemination (IUI), were evaluated in an assisted reproduction institute. PMC was recorded after 0.5-14.4 years of cryostorage.RESULTS:The mean (±SD) value of PMC of all study samples was 10.8 ± 3.3 × 10 6/ml after freezing/thawing and before cryostorage (T0), and 12.3 ± 2.9 × 106/ml after storage and before using the specimen for IUI (T1, P < 0.0001). Specimen storage for different lengths of time revealed that storage duration had no significant influence on the PMC of the specimens (r =-0.03, P = 0.08). The PMC of partially filled straws was lower than in full straws. Cryostorage duration made no difference in the PMC of raw and washed sperm specimens.CONCLUSIONProlonged storage of donated sperm in liquid nitrogen had no influence on the PMC of the specimens and therefore should not alter the fertilization potency of donated sperm. The high post-storage values of the PMC compared with the pre-storage PMC values was probably an artifact of the small volume of the pre-storage sample.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1097-1103
Number of pages7
JournalHuman Reproduction
Volume25
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2010

Keywords

  • Cryostorage
  • Donor sperm
  • Long-term storage
  • Progressive motility concentration

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