[Advantages of cryopreservation technology for rare human sperm].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To search for an effective method for cryopreservation of rare human sperm (RHS) by comparing the effect of RHS cryopreservation technology with that of conventional cryopreservation technology on post-thaw sperm from patients with severe oligozoospermia. METHODS: Semen samples obtained from 82 patients with severe oligozoospermia were preserved by RHS cryopreservation technology, and another 24 samples cryopreserved by conventional technology, the former divided into groups A (sperm concentration < 1×106/ml, n = 54) and B (1×106/ml ≤ sperm concentration < 5×106/ml, n = 28), and the latter included in group C (sperm concentration < 15×106 /ml, n = 24). The survival rate of post-thaw sperm and recovery rate of progressively motile sperm (PMS) were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The survival rate of post-thaw sperm was significantly higher in groups A and B than in C (ï¼»62.8 ± 18.7ï¼½% and ï¼»61.9 ± 17.2ï¼½% vs ï¼»50.7 ± 13.5ï¼½%, P < 0.05), and so was the recovery rate of PMS (ï¼»68.7 ± 18.4ï¼½% and ï¼»70.7 ± 15.5ï¼½% vs ï¼»29.2 ± 12.4ï¼½% , P < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences between groups A and B in either of the two parameters (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The cryopreservation technology for rare human sperm may yield relatively stable post-thaw results and deserves a wide clinical application in preserving male fertility.