Semen Flashcards
Semen: Composition
Fluid from seminal vesicles comprises over half the volume of semen contains citric acid, flavins, fructose, and potassium Testis contribute spermatozoa Fluid from prostate gland comprises about 20% the volume of semen contains acid phosphatase, citric acid, and proteolytic enzymes Small amounts of fluids from bulbourethral glands Epididymis urethral glands vasa deferentia
Male Reproductive System
Detail of the male reproductive system
Spermatogenesis
Sertoli cells of seminiferous tubles of the testis
Controlled by testosterone, LH and FSH
Maturation phases completed in the epididymis
Process takes approximately 74 days
The process of spermatogenesis
Stage of transformation from human spermatid into spermatozoo
Semen: Specimen Collection and Handling
Masturbation After a 48- to 72-hour continence Patients should have private room Written and oral instructions Wide-mouth clean collection container Properly labeled and delivered to lab within 30-60 minutes. Record any loss of specimen.
Semen: Liquefaction
Specimen is observed immediately for coagulum.
Specimen is observed at 30 minutes and 60 minutes after collection for liquefaction.
Normal liquefaction occurs between 30 and 60 minutes after collection.
Specimens that do no liquefy may require treatment with amylase so that counts can be performed.
Semen: Volume
Measured using serological pipette
Recorded to one decimal place.
Normal 2.0 to 5.0 ml
High and low volumes may indicate infertility
Semen: Viscosity
Normal semen viscosity test
abnormal = watery consistency
Semen: Sperm Motility
Analysis within 1 hour of specimen collection.
Observation on high dry (400x).
Subjective evaluation of motility
1) High-motile, Low-motile, Non-motile
2) Progressive, Non-progressive, and Non-motile
3) strong linear progression, linear progression moderate, slow nonlinear progression, non-progressive, and non-motile
Percent in each category or percent motile only.
Normal = 60% or higher progressively motile sperm.
Alternate method: High-resolution video photography
Wet mount of semen. Many sperm are present
Wet mount of semen. Several sperm can be seen along with a red blood cells (R) and a white blood cell (W)
Semen: Sperm Concentration
Inclusion criteria of counting cells
Number counted x dilution factor x 10 / Area in sq mm.
85 cells on 1:00 dilution of the specimen in 9 sq. mm. =
85 x 100 x 10 / 1 = 85,000/cumm
85000 x 1000 = 85,000,000/cc
Normal 20 to 250 million per ml (cc).
Oligospermia = less than 20 million per milliliter.
Azoospermia is the complete absence of sperm.
Low counts may be caused by:
chromosomal disorders
ductal obstruction
gonadotropin deficiency
hyalinization of the seminiferous tubules
maturation arrest
pituitary disorders
radiation, drugs
renal failure
Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (Seroli cells support sperm growth)
vasectomy
Semen: Sperm Agglutination
Observed while performing motility evaluation.
Few clumps are normal.
Distinctly head-to-head or tail-to-tail clumping may indicate the presence of antisperm antibodies.
IgG
IgA
Semen: Sperm Viability
Eosin stains dead sperm Live sperm remain unstained Nigrosin may be used for contrast Performed as a supravital stain Stain added to drop of fresh sample Smear is made and allowed to dry Evaluated on oil immersion (1000x) Reported as % viable Normal >75%
Viable sperm
picture
Nonviable sperm
picture
Semen: Sperm Penetration
Bovine cervical mucous filled flat glass tube
Placed vertically into small amount of specimen
Incubated for 90 minutes
Distance traveled by vanguard sperm is recorded
Normal = > 30mm
Sperm Morphology - Normal
Flattened oval head 4-5 um in length and 2-3 um wide
65% nuclear material with an acrosomal cap
Elongated tailpiece 50-55 um in length and 1-0.1 um neck to tip.
Four distinct regions.
Neckpiece
Midpiece
Mainpiece
Endpiece
Normally at least 70% of sperm demonstrate normally morphology.
Normal sperm
picture
Normal sperm. The arrow points to a sperm observed with a side view
Sperm Morphology - Abnormal
Head anomalies Acrosomal abnormalities Constricted head Double-headed Flat-headed Tapering head Giant head Pin head Nuclear abnormalities Vacuolation Tail anomalies Coiled tail Cytoplasmic extrusion mass Bent neck Double-tailed Multiple tails Variation in tail legnth Immature forms
Double-tailed sperm
picture
Coiled-tailed sperm
picture
Flat-headed sperm
picture
Normal sperm and another with a constricted neck
picture
Various sperm head sizes
picture
Various sperm anomalies
performing a semen analysis include determining the effectiveness of a vasectomy, rape-case
forensic studies, sperm donor evaluation, and paternity cases.
Picture
These sperm both have bent neck pieces.
picture
These sperm have round heads rather than oval
picture
These sperm all have tapered heads rather than oval
Semen consists of several fluids produced in various male reproductive organs. The slightly alkaline fluid from seminal
vesicles comprises over half the volume of semen and contains citric acid, flavins, fructose, and potassium. These
substances provide nutritional support for spermatozoa.
Spermatozoa are formed in the testis and are stored in the epididymis and vasa deferentia. The prostate gland contributes a slightly acidic fluid containing acid phosphatase, citric acid, and proteolytic enzymes. These substances account for about 20% of the semen’s volume.
The remaining reproductive organs, bulbourethral glands, epididymis, urethral glands, and vasa deferentia, contribute little additional volume to
the semen.
Upon ejaculation, the fluids from all of these sources form the mixture, semen.
The heads of these sperm all contain vacuoles
picture
The necks of these sperm have excessive cytoplasmic membrane remaining
The preferred method of semen collection is by masturbation. This procedure ensures the opportunity to collect the entire ejaculate.
Collection should be performed after a 48- to 72-hour continence (abstinence from sexual activity) to provide a specimen containing the most accurate sperm
count and viability.
A private, comfortable room should be provided for specimen collection that allows for quick delivery of the specimen to the laboratory.
Written and verbal instructions for the procedure should be provided. Specimen collection containers should be clean glass or plastic and have a wide
opening. Specimens should not be collected in a condom as these often contain spermicidal compounds and lubricants that may interfere with laboratory tests.
If the specimen must be transported from a site distant to the laboratory, it must be kept near body temperature and extremes in temperature must be avoided.
Shortly after ejaculation, the semen coagulates because of the action of a clotting enzyme, formed in the prostate, on a fibrinogen-like precursor substance that is produced by the seminal vesicles.
Liquefaction occurs within 30–60 minutes. Ideally, the specimen should arrive in the laboratory as soon after collection as possible so that an accurate liquefaction
Immature spermatids
picture
Chemical Analysis -pH
Measure within one hour of collection Nitrozine paper method Normal = 7.2 to 7.8 Acidic Congenital aplasia of vasa deferentia and seminal vesicles Alkaline reproductive tract infection Additional tests may include acid phophatase, fructose, and various hormones.
Chemical Analysis – Acid Phosphatase
Evaluates secretory function of prostate
Normal levels => 200 units.
Also used as evidence in criminal cases.
Chemical Analysis - Fructose
Provides energy for spermatozoa Produced by seminal vesicles Normal level => 13 mol/ ejaculate Low levels (accompanied by azoospermia) ejaculatory duct obstruction abnormalities in the vas deferens Correlate with androgen deficiency Correlate with decreased testosterone levels
Chemical Analysis-Hormones
Testosterone decreased gonadotropin deficiency LH decreased gonadotropin deficiency FSH decreased gonadotropin deficiency Hyalinzation of the seminiferous tubules FSH increased Seroli-cell-only syndrome All three normal in ductal obstruction or maturation arrest of spermatozoa
Semen: Immunology
Autoimmune antibodies to sperm form as a result of:
Trauma
Infections
Isoimmune antibodies directed against husband’s sperm can develop in women.
Individual specific
Broader reaction with all human spermatozoa
Semen: Microbiology
Urogenital infections account for 15% cases of male infertility. Most common organisms: Ureaplasma urealyticum Mycoplasma hominis, Chlamydia trachomatis Herpes simplex. Candida albicans
