scholarly journals Rheotaxis-based sperm separation using a biomimicry microfluidic device

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Ramazani Sarbandi ◽  
Ali Lesani ◽  
Mahdi Moghimi Zand ◽  
Reza Nosrati
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Motile Sperm ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Offspring Health ◽  
Sperm Separation ◽  
Selection Practices

AbstractSperm selection is crucial to assisted reproduction, influencing the success rate of the treatment cycle and offspring health. However, in the current clinical sperm selection practices, bypassing almost all the natural selection barriers is a major concern. Here, we present a biomimicry microfluidic method, inspired by the anatomy of the female reproductive tract, that separates motile sperm based on their rheotaxis behavior to swim against the flow into low shear rate regions. The device includes micropocket geometries that recall the oval-shaped microstructures of the female fallopian tube to create shear protected zones for sperm separation. Clinical tests with human samples indicate that the device is capable of isolating viable and highly motile sperm based on their rheotaxis responses, resulting in a separation efficiency of 100%. The device presents an automated alternative for the current sperm selection practices in assisted reproduction.

scholarly journals Practical Applications of Sperm Selection Techniques as a Tool for Improving Reproductive Efficiency

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Morrell ◽  
H. Rodriguez-Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Hyaluronic Acid ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sex Selection ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Domestic Species ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Hyaluronic Acid Binding

Modern biotechnologies are used extensively in the animal breeding industry today. Therefore, it is essential that sperm handling procedures do not modulate the normal physiological mechanisms occurring in the female reproductive tract. In this paper, the different selection mechanisms occurringin vivoare described briefly, together with their relevance to artificial insemination, followed by a detailed description of the different selection processes used in reproductive biotechnologies. These selection methods included fractionated semen collection, cryopreservation, biomimetic sperm selection, selection based on hyaluronic acid binding, and last, but not least, sperm sex selection. Biomimetic sperm selection for AI or for cryopreservation could improve pregnancy rates and help to reverse the decline in fertility seen in several domestic species over the recent decades. Similarly, selection for hyaluronic acid binding sites may enable the most mature spermatozoa to be selected for IVF or ICSI.

scholarly journals Sperm Selection for ICSI: Do We Have a Winner?

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 3566
Author(s):  
Domenico Baldini ◽  
Daniele Ferri ◽  
Giorgio Maria Baldini ◽  
Dario Lot ◽  
Assunta Catino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Cells ◽  
Cell Selection ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Gold Standard Method ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Sperm Membrane ◽  
Selection For

In assisted reproductive technology (ART), the aim of sperm cells’ preparation is to select competent spermatozoa with the highest fertilization potential and in this context, the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) represents the most applied technique for fertilization. This makes the process of identifying the perfect spermatozoa extremely important. A number of methods have now been developed to mimic some of the natural selection processes that exist in the female reproductive tract. Although many studies have been conducted to identify the election technique, many doubts and disagreements still remain. In this review, we will discuss all the sperm cell selection techniques currently available for ICSI, starting from the most basic methodologies and continuing with those techniques suitable for sperm cells with reduced motility. Furthermore, different techniques that exploit some sperm membrane characteristics and the most advanced strategy for sperm selection based on microfluidics, will be examined. Finally, a new sperm selection method based on a micro swim-up directly on the ICSI dish will be analyzed. Eventually, advantages and disadvantages of each technique will be debated, trying to draw reasonable conclusions on their efficacy in order to establish the gold standard method.

scholarly journals Mimicking physiological O2 tension in the female reproductive tract improves assisted reproduction outcomes in pig

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 260-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
S García-Martínez ◽  
M A Sánchez Hurtado ◽  
H Gutiérrez ◽  
F M Sánchez Margallo ◽  
R Romar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract

Interactions of spermatozoa with the female reproductive tract: inspiration for assisted reproduction

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Suarez
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Surface Proteins ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Storage Reservoir ◽  
Bsp Proteins

Artificial insemination with sexed semen, in vitro fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection have been used to reproduce animals, but often not as successfully as natural mating. Learning more about how spermatozoa normally interact with the female tract can provide inspiration for developing improvements in assisted reproduction. The present review focuses on Bos taurus, because more is known about this species than others. At coitus, bull spermatozoa are deposited into the anterior vagina, where they rapidly enter the cervix. Cervical mucus quickly filters out seminal plasma from spermatozoa, unlike most assisted reproduction protocols. Spermatozoa that reach the uterus may require certain cell surface proteins to swim through the uterotubal junction. Shortly after passing through the junction, most spermatozoa are trapped in a storage reservoir by binding to oviducal epithelium, in the case of cattle via bovine seminal plasma (BSP) proteins coating the sperm head. As ovulation approaches, spermatozoa capacitate and shed BSP proteins. This reduces sperm binding to the epithelium and releases them from storage. Motility hyperactivation assists spermatozoa in leaving the storage reservoir, swimming through oviducal mucus and the cumulus oophorus, and penetrating the oocyte zona pellucida. Chemotactically regulated switching between asymmetrical (i.e. hyperactivated) and symmetrical flagellar beating may also guide spermatozoa to the oocyte.

scholarly journals 3D in situ imaging of the female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Ded ◽  
Jae Yeon Hwang ◽  
Kiyoshi Miki ◽  
Huanan F Shi ◽  
Jean-Ju Chung
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Sperm Migration ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Insight Into

Out of millions of ejaculated sperm, a few reach the fertilization site in mammals. Flagellar Ca2+ signaling nanodomains, organized by multi-subunit CatSper calcium channel complexes, are pivotal for sperm migration in the female tract, implicating CatSper-dependent mechanisms in sperm selection. Here using biochemical and pharmacological studies, we demonstrate that CatSper1 is an O-linked glycosylated protein, undergoing capacitation-induced processing dependent on Ca2+ and phosphorylation cascades. CatSper1 processing correlates with protein tyrosine phosphorylation (pY) development in sperm cells capacitated in vitro and in vivo. Using 3D in situ molecular imaging and ANN-based automatic detection of sperm distributed along the cleared female tract, we demonstrate that spermatozoa past the utero-tubal junction possess the intact CatSper1 signals. Together, we reveal that fertilizing mouse spermatozoa in situ are characterized by intact CatSper channel, lack of pY, and reacted acrosomes. These findings provide molecular insight into sperm selection for successful fertilization in the female reproductive tract.

Sperm selection methods in the 21st century

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (6) ◽  
pp. 1076-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis A Vaughan ◽  
Denny Sakkas
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Selection Processes ◽  
Sperm Membrane

Abstract Natural sperm selection in humans is a rigorous process resulting in the highest quality sperm reaching, and having an opportunity to fertilize, the oocyte. Relative to other mammalian species, the human ejaculate consists of a heterogeneous pool of sperm, varying in characteristics such as shape, size, and motility. Semen preparation in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) has long been performed using either a simple swim-up method or density gradients. Both methodologies provide highly motile sperm populations; however neither replicates the complex selection processes seen in nature. A number of methods have now been developed to mimic some of the natural selection processes that exist in the female reproductive tract. These methods attempt to select a better individual, or population of, spermatozoa when compared to classical methods of preparation. Of the approaches already tested, platforms based upon sperm membrane markers, such as hyaluronan or annexin V, have been used to either select or deselect sperm with varied success. One technology that utilizes the size, motility, and other characteristics of sperm to improve both semen analysis and sperm selection is microfluidics. Here, we sought to review the efficacy of both available and emerging techniques that aim to improve the quality of the sperm pool available for use in ART.

An overview of swine artificial insemination: Retrospective, current and prospective aspects

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soriano-Úbeda C. ◽  
Matás C. ◽  
García-Vázquez FA
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Reproductive Technologies ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Sperm Transport ◽  
Pig Production ◽  
Selection Strategies ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Near Future

Assistant reproduction technologies are in constant evolution, among them the artificial insemination (AI). AI has been successfully used in pigs for decades, especially to improve boar efficienc and productivity. Lately, swine AI has taken on a new lease of life since efficient AI is essential for solving future challenges in the porcine industry and to enhance productivity. The present paper summarizes several factors concerning AI, starting with an overview of some physiological aspects including the female reproductive tract and sperm transport, as well as sperm losses during insemination and uterus sperm selection. Strategies developed to reduce the number of sperm during the AI process, are also reviewed, along with their combination with new reproductive technologies for application in pig production in the near future.

scholarly journals 3D in situ imaging of female reproductive tract reveals molecular signatures of fertilizing spermatozoa in mice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Ded ◽  
Jae Yeon Hwang ◽  
Kiyoshi Miki ◽  
Huanan F. Shi ◽  
Jean-Ju Chung
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Sperm Selection ◽  
Pharmacological Studies ◽  
Sperm Migration ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractOut of millions of ejaculated sperm, only a few reach the fertilization site in mammals. Flagellar Ca2+ signaling nanodomains, organized by multi-subunit CatSper calcium channel complexes, are pivotal for sperm migration in the female tract, implicating CatSper-dependent mechanisms in sperm selection. Here, using biochemical and pharmacological studies, we demonstrate that CatSper1 is an O-linked glycosylated protein, undergoing capacitation-induced processing dependent on Ca2+ and phosphorylation cascades. CatSper1 processing correlates with protein tyrosine phosphorylation (pY) development in sperm cells capacitated in vitro and in vivo. Using 3D in situ molecular imaging and ANN-based automatic detection of sperm distributed along the cleared female tract, we demonstrate that all spermatozoa past the UTJ possess intact CatSper1 signals. Together, we reveal that fertilizing mouse spermatozoa in situ are characterized by intact CatSper channel, lack of pY, and reacted acrosomes. These findings provide molecular insight into sperm selection for successful fertilization in the female reproductive tract.

scholarly journals Live births from artificial insemination of microfluidic-sorted bovine spermatozoa characterized by trajectories correlated with fertility

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (14) ◽  
pp. E3087-E3096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Portia B. Nagata ◽  
Kenji Endo ◽  
Kazuko Ogata ◽  
Kenichi Yamanaka ◽  
Junki Egashira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Reproduction ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Selection Strategy ◽  
Dna Integrity ◽  
Live Births ◽  
Bovine Spermatozoa ◽  
Microfluidic Sorting ◽  
Selection Of

Selection of functional spermatozoa plays a crucial role in assisted reproduction. Passage of spermatozoa through the female reproductive tract requires progressive motility to locate the oocyte. This preferential ability to reach the fertilization site confers fertility advantage to spermatozoa. Current routine sperm selection techniques are inadequate and fail to provide conclusive evidence on the sperm characteristics that may affect fertilization. We therefore developed a selection strategy for functional and progressively motile bovine spermatozoa with high DNA integrity based on the ability to cross laminar flow streamlines in a diffuser-type microfluidic sperm sorter (DMSS). The fluid dynamics, with respect to microchannel geometry and design, are relevant in the propulsion of spermatozoa and, consequently, ultrahigh-throughput sorting. Sorted spermatozoa were assessed for kinematic parameters, acrosome reaction, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA integrity. Kinematic and trajectory patterns were used to identify fertility-related subpopulations: the rapid, straighter, progressive, nonsinuous pattern (PN) and the transitional, sinuous pattern (TS). In contrast to the conventional notion that the fertilizing spermatozoon is always vigorously motile and more linear, our results demonstrate that sinuous patterns are associated with fertility and correspond to truly functional spermatozoa as supported by more live births produced from predominant TS than PN subpopulation in the inseminate. Our findings ascertain the true practical application significance of microfluidic sorting of functional sperm characterized by sinuous trajectories that can serve as a behavioral sperm phenotype marker for fertility potential. More broadly, we foresee the clinical application of this sorting technology to assisted reproduction in humans.

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