Changes in Rabbit Sperm Motion Characteristics during Incubation and Its Use inthe Assessment of Chemical Cytotoxicity

摘要

The CellSoft Motion Analysis System was used to study the changes in motioncharacteristics of rabbit sperm during incubation in a medium in which capacitation occurs. Sperm velocity reached a maximum after 1 hr of incubation and then declined linearly. The mean velocity at 5 hr was significantly higher than the mean at 0 hr. A steady increase in average amplitude of lateral head (alh) was observed, the values at 0 and 5 hr being significantly different. The motility characteristics of individual sperm cells also changed during incubation; however, this change was not reflected in the motion parameters. Positive correlations were observed only between curvilinear and straight line velocities and between maximum and average alh. A new toxicological endpoint, motility concentration index50, MCI50, was defined.