Flow-Free Microfluidic Device for Quantifying Chemotaxis in Spermatozoa
Johanna Theodora Wilhelmina Berendsen, Stella A. Kruit, Nihan Atak, Ellen Willink, Loes I. Segerink
Abstract
Current male fertility diagnosis tests focus on assessing the quality of semen samples by studying the concentration, total volume, and motility of spermatozoa. However, other characteristics such as the chemotactic ability of a spermatozoon might influence the chance of fertilization. Here we describe a simple, easy to fabricate and handle, flow-free microfluidic chip to test the chemotactic response of spermatozoa made out of a hybrid hydrogel (8% gelatin/1% agarose). A chemotaxis experiment with 1 μM progesterone was performed that significantly demonstrated that boar spermatozoa are attracted by a progesterone gradient.
Topics & Concepts
SpermatozoonChemistryChemotaxisMicrofluidicsAgaroseMotilitySemenChemotaxis assayHuman fertilizationFlow (mathematics)BOARAndrologyBiophysicsCell biologyChromatographyNanotechnologyBiochemistryAnatomyMechanicsBiologyMedicineReceptorPhysicsMaterials scienceMicrofluidic and Bio-sensing TechnologiesSperm and Testicular Function3D Printing in Biomedical Research