The identification of human sperm hyperactivated motility has potential importance in sperm function tests, as well as in quality control assays and in reproductive toxicology investigations. However, relatively little is known about this phenomenon and the variety of definitions used for hyperactivation has led to a great deal of confusion as to its occurrence and physiological relevance. This presentation is a critical review of a number of aspects of hyperactivated motility, including its identification and potential role(s) in mammalian fertilization. The initial sections of the review consider the mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of mammalian sperm motility, and the structural and functional changes in spermatozoa which occur during transport through the female reproductive tract. The methods available for the quantification of aspects of sperm movement are also discussed, with an historical overview of sperm movement analysis.

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A critical review of the physiological importance and analysis of sperm movement in mammals

Computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) technology is 7 years old Over 120 papers have been written that verify the technology or apply it in basic and clinical studies Most of the technical problems with CASA, such as the dependence of velocity on video frame rate, inaccuracy of count and percent motility for low- and high-concentration specimens, parameter dependence on the number of frames analyzed, sensitivity of the subjective threshold setting, confusion over the presence of debris, and different implementations of algorithms across instruments, still persist A critical review of the literature reveals that no standard practices are followed within or across instruments Moreover, no standards have been embraced or recommended by professional societies Despite its potential to provide objective measurements of specimen and individual sperm parameters, and to automate the laboratory semen analysis, the promise of CASA has not been fulfilled Unless laboratory medicine defines instrument performance and laboratory standards and co-operates with industry to achieve these goals, CASA technology may remain a research curiosity This outcome is especially worrisome in the context of increasing requirements for laboratory accuracy, precision, standardization, and accreditation under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act of 1988

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/j.1939-4640.1993.tb00407.x

Operational Standards for CASA Instruments

Automated semen analysis.

Evaluation of the "Hamilton Thorn computer-based automated system" for dog semen analysis.

Background and Methods. In warm climates throughout the world, there is a deficit of births during the spring season. To determine whether this deficit might reflect a deleterious effect of heat on the male reproductive capacity during the previous summer, we obtained semen specimens in summer and winter from normal men who worked outdoors in the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, and we performed automated semen analyses with an image-analysis system. Results. Pairwise comparisons among 131 men without azoospermia who contributed specimens in both summer and winter revealed significant reductions during the summer in sperm concentration, total sperm count per ejaculate, and concentration of motile sperm. The mean decreases in these values after adjustment for potential confounding characteristics were 32 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 28 and 44 percent), 24 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 18 and 43 percent), and 28 percent (95 percent confidence limits, 24 and 44 percent), respective...

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM199007053230103

George Koukoulis

Papers

Computer-assisted semen analysis: evaluation of method and assessment of the influence of sperm concentration on linear velocity determination.