Sperm Motility and ATP Content in Seminal Hyperviscosity

Abstract

Objective spermatic motility (Hamilton Thome Research), the rapid progressive spermatozoa (grade A) recovery after swim-up, and the spermatozoa ATP content (bioluminescence) were studied in normoviscous and hyperviscous asthenospermic samples. The amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) was significantly lower in hyperviscous semen (normal: 4.6 ± 0.7 μm [n= 20], high: 3.5 ± 1.2 μm [n= 16]; p<. 05). The grade A recovery percentage after swim-up was significantly higher in semens with high consistency (normal: 71.0 ± 38.0 [n= 14], high: 181.3 ± 108.9 [n= 6];P<. 05). The ATP content per living spermatozoa was in the normal consistency group 449.4 ± 65.1 pmol per million living spermatozoa (n= 29) and in the high consistency batch 605.1 ± 242.8 (n= 9), p<. 05. In asthenospermia, the spermatozoa from hyperviscous samples have minor ALH values, better response to swim-up, and higher ATP content than those from normoviscous ejaculates.