Effects of trehalose and sucrose on human sperm motility, vitality and morphology after cryopreservation

Abstract

Objective: To compare human sperm motility, vitality and morphology after cryopreservation among sucrose, and different trehalose concentrations. Material and Methods: A total number of 124 normozoospermic semen samples were collected. Each semen sample was divided into 4 portions, and cryopreserved in a human sperm-preserving medium along with cryoprotectants, including; 50 milimolar (mM) trehalose, 100 mM trehalose, 200 mM trehalose and 50 mM sucrose, respectively. All semen samples were frozen by using a vapor phase method. Post-thawed sperm motility, vitality and morphology were assessed. R program was used for data analysis. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Post-thawed semen evaluation indicated that 50 mM trehalose was better than 50 mM sucrose in all sperm parameters, which included progressive motility (p-value=0.037, total motility (p-value<0.001), vitality (p-value<0.001) and morphology (p-value<0.001). The sperm parameters were not significantly different among 100 mM trehalose, 200 mM trehalose and 50 mM sucrose. Conclusion: The use of 50 mM trehalose, as non-permeating cryoprotectant, showed superior post-thaw sperm parameters over sucrose, and other trehalose concentrations.