Effect of counting chamber depth on the accuracy of lensless microscopy for the assessment of boar sperm motility

Sperm motility is one of the most significant parameters in the prediction of male fertility. Until now, both motility analysis using an optical microscope and computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA-Mot) entailed the use of counting chambers with a depth to 20 μm. Chamber depth significantly affects the intrinsic sperm movement, leading to an artificial motility pattern. For the first time, laser microscopy offers the possibility of avoiding this interference with sperm movement. The aims of the present study were to determine the different motility patterns observed in chambers with depths of 10, 20 and 100 μm using a new holographic approach and to compare the results obtained in the 20-μm chamber with those of the laser and optical CASA-Mot systems. The ISAS ® 3D-Track results showed that values for curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity, wobble and beat cross frequency were higher for the 100-μm chambers than for the 10- and 20-μm chambers. Only VCL showed a positive correlation between chambers. In addition, Bayesian analysis confirmed that the kinematic parameters observed with the 100-μm chamber were significantly different to those obtained using chambers with depths of 10 and 20 μm. When an optical analyser CASA-Mot system was used, all kinematic parameters, except VCL, were higher with ISAS ® 3D-Track, but were not relevant after Bayesian analysis. Finally, almost three different three-dimensional motility patterns were recognised. In conclusion, the use of the ISAS ® 3D-Track allows for the analysis of the natural three-dimensional pattern of sperm movement.