Comparison of Two-layer Percoll Gradient and Mini- Percoll Methods for Sperm Preparation

SOMBOON KUNATHIKOM, M.D.*, KITIRA T TECHATRAISAK, M.D.*, PHAKPHUM PHOPHONG, M.D.*, SOMCHIT KO-ANANTAKUL, B.P.H. *, CHATCHAI TREETAMPINICH, M.D.*, CHARUNEE KARA V AGUL, B.A.*

Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.

Abstract To compare the efficiency of sperm preparation between the two-layer Percoll gradient and mini-Percoll methods, 50 normal and 33 abnormal semen samples from male partners of infertile couples were studied. The number of recovered spermatozoa, percentage of motility, percentage of normal morphology, and their survival at 24 and 48 hours were assessed. Both Percoll gradient techniques resulted in a significantly higher percentage of motility and percen- tage of normal morphology compared with the original semen samples (pO.OOl) and a higher sperm survival rate at 24 hours (p<0.05) than the former, regarding normal semen samples. These differences did not appear with abnormal semen samples when analyzed as a group. Considering each of the abnormal parameters separately, sperm recovery was significantly higher after the two-layer Percoll gradient in the case of astheno - and teratozoospermia (p<0.05), but sperm survival at 48 hours was higher after the mini-Percoll gradient in the case of teratozoospermia (p<0.05). It is concluded that both the two-layer Percoll gradient and mini-Percoll method can be used effectively for sperm preparation. The former yields a higher sperm recovery, but the latter should be considered regarding teratozoospermic samples and semen samples of very low volume.

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