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S A Rothmann

Publications and source records attributed to S A Rothmann.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Laboratory diagnosis in andrology.

Evaluation of male fertility traditionally has relied on analysis of spermatozoa and seminal plasma. Technology has consisted almost exclusively of subjective motility assessment and morphology of stained sperm-cell preparations. Evaluation of seminal plasma components, particularly anti-sperm antibodies, was based on functional properties of sperm immobilization and agglutination. In the last few years, objective measurements of sperm motility have become available, and new methods for immunological evaluation have been applied to andrology laboratory evaluations. This review discusses methods of laboratory diagnosis of male infertility, including many of these new technologies.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a container for collection and shipment of semen with potential uses in population-based, clinical, and occupational settings.

Large, population-based studies of semen quality are encumbered by the logistics and expense of obtaining semen samples from men who live in a variety of locations. A prototype semen collection and transportation kit, the TRANSEM100, can be distributed to study participants and then directly shipped to a central laboratory for analysis. This study was designed to evaluate the ability of male volunteers to correctly use the kit. Thirty volunteers aged 20 to 44 years with no history of diabetes, recent chemotherapy, fertility problems, or vasectomy were recruited through a newspaper advertisement, interviewed to obtain demographic information, and instructed on the use of the kit. Twenty-six of the initial subjects provided at least 1 semen specimen using the kit and returned the specimens by overnight delivery to the laboratory for analysis, 25 completed a follow-up interview on the use of the collection kit, and 20 submitted a second semen sample using the same method. The average volunteer was white, 27.8 years old, and held at least a college degree. Forty percent of the volunteers were married. In general, participants correctly followed the instructions for collecting, packaging, and shipping the semen samples. Volunteers were instructed to collect samples after at least 2, but no more than 7 days of abstinence. For the first and second samples submitted, participants collected semen samples after an average of 3.3 and 3.9 days of abstinence, respectively. Seventeen (65%) of the samples from the first sampling period and 16 (80%) of the samples from the second period were received in the laboratory the day after they had been collected. In summary, the TRANSEM100 may prove to be useful for collecting human semen in field studies. Further testing of this method is warranted to evaluate preservation of sample quality and use of the kit by men among diverse socioeconomic groups.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of catheter composition on sperm quality.

Bladder catheterization for collection of retrograde ejaculates is commonly practiced, although previous studies have shown that materials used in the manufacture of the catheters may be toxic to sperm. Potential toxicity is particularly relevant to electroejaculation, as sperm from anejaculatory individuals undergoing this procedure characteristically exhibit poor motility and viability. To determine the effect of short-term exposure to various catheter materials on sperm quality, donor semen was diluted with BWW medium and aliquots incubated for 1 and 5 minutes with segments of four different catheters. The catheters were composed of latex, silicone rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), and radio-opaque Teflon, respectively. Following incubation, eosin-nigrosin staining for viability was performed and sperm motility assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (Cellsoft, Cryo Resources, Ltd). In the second phase of the study, donor semen was incubated with catheter segments coated with 0.3 ml of a water-soluble, nontoxic lubricant (Cellulosagel, Lederle) to evaluate whether the combination adversely affects sperm. Percent motility and viability for the semen specimens incubated with the four catheters alone did not differ significantly from control values either at 1 or at 5 minutes (P = 0.3, motility; P = 0.6, viability). The addition of lubricant did not change the catheter data significantly, indicating the absence of independent or synergistic toxicity (P = 0.5, motility; P = 0.4, viability). This study provides substantial evidence that brief exposure to conventional catheters, with or without a nontoxic lubricant, does not adversely affect sperm motility or viability.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Catheters, Indwelling↗