Automated Analysis of Rat Sperm Motility Following Subchronic Epichlorohydrin Administration: Methodologic and Statistical Considerations

摘要

The automated analysis of sperm motion endpoints is potentially useful in identifying male reproductive toxicants and ultimately in predicting fertility in humans. The present study was designed to evaluate the automated analysis of rat sperm motility characteristics following subchronic administration of epichlorohydrin. This type of validation is a prerequisite for inclusion of sperm motion measurements in the process of reproductive risk assessment. In the present studies videotapes were made of cauda epididymal sperm from Long-Evans rats, both untreated and treated with the epichlorohydrin. From analysis of videotapes of control epididymal sperm, the relationship of various sperm motion endpoints and settings of the CellSoft computer-assisted sperm motion analysis system (Cryo Resources, Ltd., N. Y. C.) is described. Optimal settings of the system for analysis of rat sperm are detailed. Employing data from both control and epichlorohydrin-treated animals, statistical methodology is described which evaluates the distributions of CellSoft-generated sperm motion endpoints, the correlations between these endpoints, and techniques for detection of dose-related effects. (Copyright (c) American Society of Andrology 1989.)