GLASS WOOL COLUMN FILTRATION VERSUS MINI-PERCOLL GRADIENT FOR PROCESSING POOR QUALITY SEMEN SAMPLES

Objective: To compare the quality and number of spermatozoa recovered from laboratory-induced severe oligozoospermic specimens processed by mini-Percoll gradient and glass wool column filtration. Design: Both s perm-processing procedures were compared in similar sperm samples adju sted to contain equal low numbers of motile spermatozoa using either d ilution (oligozoospermia) or with the addition of killed sperm (oligoa sthenozoospermia). The spermatozoa processed by both procedures sample s were evaluated for motility, response to hypo-osmotic swelling test, and the hemizona assay. Patients: Five healthy fertile sperm donors. Setting: Private Andrology Laboratory and University Hospital. Main Ou tcome Measure: Sperm motility, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and hemizon a assay results determined the efficacy of the sperm-processing proced ures. Results: The concentration of sperm recovered after both procedu res was not affected by either preparation or processing methods. Glas s wool-processed sperm had higher motility in oligoasthenozoospermic s amples, bound tightly to hemizonae in higher mean numbers, and demonst rated a higher percentage of membrane-intact spermatozoa in oligozoosp ermic samples. Conclusion: Laboratory-prepared oligozoospermic samples subjected to glass wool filtration yielded more functionally intact s permatozoa than mini-Percoll gradient processing.