Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation

Summary

In this paper, we aim to describe the performance of the density gradient centrifugation technique and its application in sperm physiology research.

Abstract

In sexual reproduction, a male gamete or sperm cell fuses with a female gamete to bring about fertilization. However, a large number of sperm cells with fertilizing ability are required to interact with a female gamete to ensure fertilization. As such, the fertilizing ability of individual sperm cells is critical for successful reproduction. Density gradient centrifugation has been utilized for several decades as a reproducible, fast, efficient, effective and extremely adaptable method to collect only high-quality sperm to be used in assisted reproductive technology. The protocols we described herein focus on the utilization of the discontinuous Percoll density gradient centrifugation (PDGC) technique to isolate three distinct populations of rooster sperm by their quality. We were able to collect low-, medium- and high-quality sperm. We also describe reproducible protocols that entail determining fertility potential of sperm by assessing their viability, mobility and penetrability. Collection of sperm by their quality using PDGC technique would be useful to accurately and thoroughly characterize sperm with differential fertility potential.

Introduction

In vertebrates, male gametes undergo intense selective pressure; therefore reproductive fitness of a male is pivotal for achieving successful fertilization. Males of any given vertebrate species must be able to produce sperm cells in large quantities and of sufficient quality in order to meet the needs of fertilization. Sperm cells, having both a sperm head and a flagellum, are the most polarized cells in the body. They are also very heterogeneous in quality of sperm (live and dead, morphologically normal and abnormal, and immobile, low mobile and high mobile), which is revealed through the wide variation in reproductive efficiency of the males. The larger the proport....

Protocol

All methods described here have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the University of Georgia.

1. Washing using Traditional Centrifugation

1. Prepare phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Add 8.0 g of NaCl, 0.2 g of KCl, 1.44 g of Na₂HPO₄ and 0.24 g of KH₂PO₄ to 800 mL of distilled water (dH₂O). Adjust the pH to 7.4 using 0.1 N HCl and bring the solution to 1 L using dH₂O.
2. Pr.......

Discussion

Fertility not only determines the profitability of animal production but also acts as a means of natural selection of species for existence. The ultimate function of a sperm cell is to fertilize an ovum. The oviduct of a female selects only those fittest sperm in order to ensure fertilization of the ovum^23,24. In vitro studies have also revealed a close correlation between qualitative sperm traits and fertilization success^4,<.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Accudenz	Accurate Chemical and Scientific Corporation, Westbury, NY, USA	AN7050
Percoll	Sigma-Aldrich, Corp., St. Louis, MO, USA	P7828
Schiff’s reagent	Sigma-Aldrich, Corp., St. Louis, MO, USA	3952016
TES	Sigma-Aldrich, Corp., St. Louis, MO, USA	T1375
Eosin Y	Sigma-Aldrich, Corp., St. Louis, MO, USA	E4009
Nigrosin	Sigma-Aldrich, Corp., St. Louis, MO, USA	198285
ST 40R Centrifuge	Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA	75004524
DU 530 Life Sciences UV/Vis Spectrophotometer	Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA		No catalogue is found
Olympus IX 71 Inverted Fluorescence and Phase Contrast Microscope	Olympus America Inc., PA, USA		No catalogue is found