Influence of different filling method-related sperm counting chambers and structural factors of disposable chambers on sperm motility

To evaluate the effects of different filling method-related sperm counting chambers and the structural factors of Leja counting chambers on sperm motility using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).

Methods: Using drop-filled Makler, capillary-loaded Leja and structurally modified Leja sperm counting chambers, we measured sperm concentration, the percentages of progressively motile sperm (PMS) and non-progressively motile sperm (NPMS), total sperm motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), beat-cross frequency (BCF), linearity (LIN), wobble (WOB) and straightness (STR) in the semen samples of 76 males by CASA and compared them between different chambers.

Results: The drop-filled Makler sperm counting chamber achieved remarkably higher PMS, NPMS, total sperm motility, VCL and VAP than the Leja chambers (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in VSL, BCF, LIN, WOB and STR between the Makler and Leja chambers (P > 0.05), or in sperm concentration, PMS, NPMS and total sperm motility between the capillary-loaded and structurally modified Leja counting chambers (P > 0.05). The ground edge and thickness of the coverslip of the Leja counting chamber produced no significant inference on the kinetic sperm parameters (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: The drop-filled sperm counting chamber achieves significantly higher sperm motility and kinetic parameters than the capillary-loaded Leja chamber. The structural factors such as the ground edge and thickness of the coverslip of the Leja counting chamber do not influence the analysis of sperm parameters.