Evaluation of human sperm membrane integrity using the water test and the hypoosmotic test.

The objective of the study was to compare the water test and the hypoosmotic test (HOS) in the assessment of the human sperm membrane. A total of 686 semen samples from human male donors were subjected to water and HOS tests after routine semen evaluation. The mean percentage of swollen spermatozoa was 71.8 +/- 9.6% in the HOS test and 67.8 +/- 9.4% for the water test; these values were not statistically different. The correlation of coefficients between the water test and the HOS test was highly significant whether the values for the HOS test were higher or lower than 60% (P < 0.001). A poor correlation was obtained when the two tests were compared for sperm counts either higher or lower than 20 x 6 ml-1 and when the results for both tests were compared with the percentage of eosin-Y staining spermatozoa. A poor correlation was also obtained when the results of each test were compared with eosin-Y staining spermatozoa in normal and abnormal semen samples. The coefficient of regression between the two tests showed a high correlation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, even though a high correlation between the HOS test and water test was observed in this study, it is not possible to recommend assessment of sperm membrane integrity using the water test and the consequent replacement of the HOS test in routine practice. Further studies are necessary to establish the best test for sperm vitality.

Correlation between hypo-osmotic swelling test and 'water test' to assess human sperm membrane integrity.

Fifty-nine men who requested vasectomy and 43 infertile patients had a semen analysis performed prior to surgery or during evaluation. A hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOS) and a new 'Water test' were performed simultaneously, in order to assess correlation between these two procedures. Our results showed that values obtained with the 'Water test' were significantly higher than those obtained with the HOS test (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that it is necessary to determine normal values for this new test before introducing it in the routine semen analysis.

1,10 phenanthroline, a metal chelator, protects against alloxan- but not streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

The iron chelator, 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), which inhibits hydroxyl radical formation, was tested in vitro and in vivo against alloxan and streptozotocin (STZ) cytotoxicity. Phen injection reduced the severity of alloxan-induced diabetes in rats and attenuated alloxan-induced toxicity in human fibroblasts (VA 13 line) in culture. These protective effects were not observed against STZ toxic action. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that hydroxyl radicals, generated via an iron-catalyzed reaction, induce the alloxan but not the STZ diabetogenic effects.