TY - JOUR

T1 - Three-dimensional sperm surface reconstruction

T2 - A novel approach to assessing sperm morphology

AU - Levine, Brian A.

AU - Feinstein, Jeremy

AU - Neri, Queenie V.

AU - Goldschlag, Dan

AU - Rosenwaks, Zev

AU - Belongie, Serge

AU - Palermo, Gianpiero D.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2015 American Society for Reproductive Medicine

PY - 2015/12/1

Y1 - 2015/12/1

N2 - Objective To create a rapid, inexpensive, efficient, and reproducible real-time three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of viable spermatozoa. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal semen profiles are associated with a modest increase in the frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities, and that sperm with aberrations in the shape and contours of the head may be carriers of chromatinic defects. Although high-power magnification and enhanced video-generated magnification have been suggested, these techniques are inherently limited by the clarity of the image, the time required for the analysis, and the risk of variable head-positioning during imaging. Design In vitro experiment. Setting University-affiliated infertility research laboratory. Patient(s) Anonymous sperm donors. Intervention(s) Individual motile sperm were identified, analyzed at ×600 magnification, and a 10-second digital video was obtained. Main Outcome Measure(s) Image-tracking software captured serial photographs of sperm from recorded videos. Images were automatically extracted from each video frame using enhanced correlation coefficient maximization; the general shape of the sperm was extracted via space-carving. The reconstructed image was rotated to permit viewing from any direction, and the final image was rendered through interpolation. Result(s) This technique yielded images that enable noninvasive, 3-D, real-time, in vitro assessment of sperm surface morphology. Conclusion(s) This proof-of-principle demonstrates that by keeping spermatozoa in a fluid environment, a 3-D sperm–surface reconstruction can be created. This technique can be automated, requires minimal computing power, and utilizes equipment already available in most embryology laboratories.

AB - Objective To create a rapid, inexpensive, efficient, and reproducible real-time three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of viable spermatozoa. Previous studies have demonstrated that abnormal semen profiles are associated with a modest increase in the frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities, and that sperm with aberrations in the shape and contours of the head may be carriers of chromatinic defects. Although high-power magnification and enhanced video-generated magnification have been suggested, these techniques are inherently limited by the clarity of the image, the time required for the analysis, and the risk of variable head-positioning during imaging. Design In vitro experiment. Setting University-affiliated infertility research laboratory. Patient(s) Anonymous sperm donors. Intervention(s) Individual motile sperm were identified, analyzed at ×600 magnification, and a 10-second digital video was obtained. Main Outcome Measure(s) Image-tracking software captured serial photographs of sperm from recorded videos. Images were automatically extracted from each video frame using enhanced correlation coefficient maximization; the general shape of the sperm was extracted via space-carving. The reconstructed image was rotated to permit viewing from any direction, and the final image was rendered through interpolation. Result(s) This technique yielded images that enable noninvasive, 3-D, real-time, in vitro assessment of sperm surface morphology. Conclusion(s) This proof-of-principle demonstrates that by keeping spermatozoa in a fluid environment, a 3-D sperm–surface reconstruction can be created. This technique can be automated, requires minimal computing power, and utilizes equipment already available in most embryology laboratories.

KW - noninvasive

KW - Sperm morphology

KW - three-dimensional

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945539557&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.024

DO - 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2015.08.024

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26363386

AN - SCOPUS:84945539557

VL - 104

SP - e14-e15

JO - Sexuality, Reproduction and Menopause

JF - Sexuality, Reproduction and Menopause

SN - 1546-2501

IS - 6

ER -