Investigation of functional sperm membrane integrity after consequence of anti-hypoosmotic swelling test technique: an electron microscopic study.

OBJECTIVE: Infertility is described as the inability of a couple to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Male factor is assumed to be responsible for 50% of cases of infertile couples. It is a common clinical problem, affecting approximately 13-15% of couples worldwide. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) and anti-HOS tests on sperm membrane integrity at the ultrastructural level. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-nine infertile and 10 fertile men were included in this study. The fertile and infertile subjects were classified according to Kruger and WHO criterion. All semen samples were examined and ana-yzed based on WHO guidelines. Sperm viability was determined by using the eosin Y staining method. After HOS and anti-HOS tests wore applied, the samples were evaluated at the ultrastructural level. RESULTS: Normal structural features of all regions of sperm were observed in sections of sham normospermia. Some histopathological changes wore seen in HOS and anti-HOS group sections. CONCLUSION: The HOS procedure was found not to cause degenerative changes in the sperm ultrastructure. The anti-HOS procedure can be applied in normospermic and oligospermic groups.