Original Investigation

Combination of swim-up and density gradient separation methods effectively eliminate DNA damaged sperm

10.5152/jtgga.2011.35

  • Surveen Ghumman
  • Satish Kumar Adiga
  • Dinesh Upadhya
  • Guruprasad Kalthur
  • Varshini Jayaraman
  • Satish Bola Rao
  • Pratap Kumar

Received Date: 13.06.2011 Accepted Date: 19.07.2011 J Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2011;12(3):148-152 PMID: 24591982

Objective:

The aim of this experimental prospective study was to investigate the efficacy of single and combination sperm wash methods for their ability to isolate DNA intact spermatozoa.

Material and Methods:

Sperm DNA damage was introduced by local testicular irradiation in male mice and the extent of damage was quantified by comet assay. The spermatozoa were subjected to single (swim up or density gradient method) and also a combination of sperm wash techniques. The DNA integrity in various sub-fractions of wash techniques was evaluated.

Results:

The amount of DNA damaged sperm did not differ between individual fractions when single wash technique was applied. However, a combination of density gradient and swim-up techniques significantly reduced (p<0.01) the number of DNA damaged sperm in the final population.

Conclusion:

The combination of density gradient separation and swim-up method is effective in eliminating DNA damaged spermatozoa.

Keywords: Sperm wash, DNA damage, swim- up, density gradient separation, comet assay