Membrane integrity evaluation in rabbit spermatozoa

Objectives: The behaviour of head and tail sperm membrane subjected to different vitality tests was evaluated, searching for possible correlations with sperm motility. Study design: On fresh semen from seven rabbits we performed: the Eosin Exclusion Test (EET) and, with different incubation times (T-0, T-5, T-30), a Hypoosmotic Swelling Test (HOS-test) and a combined Hypoosmotic and Eosin Test (HE-test). Kinetic parameters were determined by using the CASA system CELL-TRAK. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The HOS-test revealed significant differences between percentages of curled spermatozoa at To (67.86 +/- 4.28) versus T-5 (72.86 +/- 3.28) and versus T-30 (75.14 +/- 6.5). Among four types of spermatozoa obtained with the HE-test. percentage of Type 1 sperm (HOS+/Eosine) at T-0 (32.3% +/- 6.65), was lower than motile sperm (66.86% +/- 9.72) but positively correlated Conclusions: The HE-test is a rapid instrument for predicting sperm motility, selecting spermatozoa with a high degree of membrane resistance both in the tail and the head compartment. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.