A simple apparatus for studying sperm attraction: Chemotaxis induced by relaxin and progesterone

The aim of this study was to develop a simple, inexpensive but reliable method of assessing sperm attraction and to determine the chemotactic effects of relaxin and progesterone within the system. Percoll-processed human sperm were allowed to migrate out of a chamber inserted into a microcentrifuge tube containing either relaxin or progesterone. After appropriate incubation, sperm concentrations were determined within the microcentrifuge tube and compared with counts from control tubes. While this apparatus does not permit optional, bidirectional movement toward and away from an attractant (or toward an attractant and away from a repellent), it measures directional movement in response to a chemical gradient. Within this system, both progesterone and relaxin showed sperm attraction relative to the controls. This apparatus is simple, reliable and requires no custom built components. ©1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.