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Common Challenges for Sperm In Vitro: Causes and Consequences

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XIIIth International Symposium on Spermatology

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Abstract

Before the human spermatozoon reaches the ovum in the ART Laboratory, it experi- ences various challenges. This paper will focus on two major unphysiological chal- lenges that may affect its full fertilizing potential. These are (1) sperm exposure to seminal vesicular fluid and (2) sperm exposure to an osmotic roller-coaster. Exposure to seminal vesicular fluid results in chromatin zinc deficiency and a vulnerable chromatin. Exposure to the osmotic roller coaster results in sperm ATP depletion, tail coiling, impaired sperm motility and low sperm density affecting sperm functional properties and sperm selection procedures by swim up and density gradient centrifugation. These two unphysiological challenges are unintendedly forced onto the spermatozoa when collected as a whole ejaculate and then subjected to diagnostics and sperm selection for ART.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ANOVA, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ulrik Kvist

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  1. Ulrik Kvist
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Correspondence to Ulrik Kvist .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology Laboratory, ANOVA Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Lars Björndahl

  2. Andrology Laboratory, ANOVA Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    John Flanagan

  3. Andrology Laboratory, ANOVA Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Rebecka Holmberg

  4. Andrology Laboratory, ANOVA Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ulrik Kvist

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Kvist, U. (2021). Common Challenges for Sperm In Vitro: Causes and Consequences. In: Björndahl, L., Flanagan, J., Holmberg, R., Kvist, U. (eds) XIIIth International Symposium on Spermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66292-9_30

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