Enhancement or initiation of testicular sperm motility by in vitro cultureof testicular tissue

Objective: To describe different techniques of testicular tissue culture an d their effect on sperm motility, mainly in cases of totally immotile sperm atozoa, and to compare the effect of in vitro culture with that of motility stimulants. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Patient(s): Ten patients undergoing testicular biopsy for diagnostic purpos es or for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Intervention(s): Dissected testicular biopsy samples and tissue blocks were cultured at 37 degrees C for up to 96 hours. Immediately after dissection, immotile testicular spermatozoa were incubated fur 30 minutes in pentoxify lline and 2-deoxyadenosine. Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm motility and vitality. Result(s): Overall. dissected samples showed improved sperm motility, which peaked within 48 hours of culture. Unlike motility, vitality declined line arly, from 56.3% +/- 19% at initial assessment to 18.8% +/- 11% at 96 hours . Five samples had initially immotile spermatozoa, of which four acquired m otility at 48 hours. In vitro culture showed results comparable with those of incubation with pentoxifylline and 2-deoxyadenosine. Culture of tissue b locks did not improve motility or vitality compared with dissected tissue. Conclusion(s): The motility of testicular spermatozoa was enhanced or initi ated after in vitro culture. Testicular biopsy culture may be an alternativ e to the use of motility stimulants to obtain motile spermatozoa for intrac ytoplasmic sperm injection, particularly when oocytes are not immediately a vailable. (Fertil Steril(R) 1999:71:240-3. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).