A theoretical and scanning electron microscope study on the electrically mediated inactivation of spermatozoa

Spermatozoa are known to carry a net negative charge and have been shown to die in a dc electric field, but the cause of the lethal effect has not been explored. We present here an experimental and theoretical analysis of various factors likely to lead to the mortality of spermatozoa. Alterations in the spermatozoon surface complex induced by the applied current density has been identified to be the most likely cause.