[Sperm sorting based on the imitation of the physiological process on the microfluidic chip].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method for sperm sorting by imitating the physiological process of sperm-cervical mucus interaction on the microfluidic chip. METHODS: We designed a microfluidic chip to imitate the physiological process of natural sperm sorting in the microchannel based on the interaction between sperm and cervical mucus, and obtained motile sperm after the interaction. Meanwhile, we established an integrated real-time sperm detection reservoir on this chip to determine sperm parameters using the computer-assisted sperm analysis system. We analyzed 30 samples using both microfluidic and swim-up methods, and compared the results with those obtained before sorting. RESULTS: The rate of grade a + b sperm, the rate of morphologically normal sperm, straight-line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP) and straightness (STR) were (29.78 +/- 11.24)%, (8.00 +/- 5.19)%, (18.89 +/- 4.90) microm/s, (26.84 +/- 5.13) microm/s and (70.15 +/- 7.61)%, respectively, before sorting, (71.65 +/- 11.18)%, (14.95 +/- 6.79)%, (24.14 +/- 5.95) microm/s, (32.61 +/- 6.36) microm/s and (73.87 +/- 9.34)%, respectively, after swim-up sorting, and (92.37 +/- 6.33)%, (23.33 +/- 7.67)%, (34.03 +/- 16.78) microm/s, (38.73 +/- 16.40) microm/s and (84.91 +/- 12.56)%, respectively, after sorting on the microfluidic chip. The sperm parameters obtained before sorting showed statistically significant differences from those obtained on the chip (P < 0.01) and by the swim-up method (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Imitation of the physiological interaction between sperm and cervical mucus on the microfluidic chip helped the realization of both the natural sorting and real-time analysis of sperm. The quality of the sperm sorted on the microfluidic chip is significantly better than that of the sperm before sorting and sorted by the swim-up method. This has prepared the ground for imitating the fertilization process under the physiological condition on the microfluidic chip.

[Effects of water depth on the growth of Vallisneria natans and photosynthetic system II photochemical characteristics of the leaves].

The effects of water depth on the growth of Vallisneria natans and photosynthetic system II photochemical characteristics of the leaves were investigated at three depths of 0.6, 1.3 and 2.0 m. The rapid fluorescence induction kinetics curves (OJIP) of the leaves were measured with Plant Efficiency Analyzer and analyzed with JIP-test. The results indicated that the light intensities at water depths of 0.6, 1.3 and 2.0 m were obviously different and the growth of V. natans was restricted under water depth of 2.0 m. Biomass, number of ramets, number of leaves, total root length, root surface area and other morphological indices decreased significantly with the increasing water depth, and the maximum leaf length, average leaf length, maximum leaf width changed insignificantly with the water depth. With the increasing water depth, absorption flux per reaction center (ABS/RC), trapped energy flux per RC (TR0/RC), electron transport flux per RC (ET0/RC), reduction of end acceptors at photosynthetic system I (PS I ) electron acceptor side per RC (RE0/ RC) decreased significantly. The dissipated energy flux per RC (DI0/RC) also decreased significantly, which led to no obvious difference in quantum yield for the reduction of end acceptors of PS I per photon absorbed (phiR0) and the efficiency for the trapped exciton to move an electron into the electron transport chain from QA- to the PS I end electron acceptors (deltaR0). Because the amount of active PS II RCs per CS increased significantly, photosynthesis per area of V. natans grown at 2.0 m was significantly greater than that of V. natans grown at 0.6 m. The performance index PIs, Ples, Plabs,.otal photochemistry efficiency of leaves of V. natans grown at 2.0 m was significantly in- creased, suggesting that light stress may promote a more efficient conversion of light energy to active chemical energy. V. natans leaves accommodate the low light intensity environment through activating inactive reaction centers but not through improving light utilization efficiency per reaction center, and the water depth of 1.3 m may be more suitable for the growth of V. natans.