Expression of progesterone membrane receptor in spermatozoa from normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men

The aim of the study was to assess the expression of progesterone membrane receptors in human spermatozoa before and after capacitation. The sperm of 16 men with normozoospermia and 48 men with oligozoospermia was examined. Progesterone-BSA complex labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (P-BSA-FITC) was applied to visualise the progesterone receptors. The spermatozoa were capacitated with BM1 medium. In freshly ejaculated sperm from normozoospermic men, P-BSA-FITC staining (bright fluorescence of acrosome region) was observed in 50.1+/-5.1% of spermatozoa. Following capacitation in BM1 medium, the percentage of P-BSA-FITC stained spermatozoa increased to 69.9+/-3.3%. In sperm from slight oligozoospermia the percentage of P-BSA-FITC stained cells before and after capacitation was 48.2+/-8.5% and 67.9+/-4.2%, respectively. In men with severe oligozoospermia the percentage of P-BSA-FITC stained cells was 11.9+/-1.7% and 11.9+/-1.9%, respectively. It is supposed that progesterone membrane receptors in human spermatozoa are gradually exposed during capacitation. Disturbances in the expression of progesterone membrane receptors might be involved in male infertility.     

Synergetic Effects of K,Ca, Cu and Zn in Human Semen in Relation to Parameters Indicative of Spontaneous Hyperactivation of Spermatozoa

We have observed that sperm quality parameters indicative of spermatozoa hyperactivation such are lower “linearity” and “straightness”, and as showed by this research “elongation”, were more pronounced in patients with normal spermiogram compared to the group of men with reduced sperm motility who were undergoing routine in vitro fertilisation. The research encompassed 97 men diagnosed with normozoospermia (n = 20), asthenozoospermia (n = 54) and oligoasthenozoospermia (n = 23). The findings indicate that sperm quality of patients with normal spermiogram diagnosed according to WHO criteria, may be compromised by showing premature spontaneous hyperactivation which can decrease the chances of natural conception. We assessed synergistic effects of multiple chemical elements in ejaculated semen to find if premature spontaneous hyperactivation of spermatozoa can be a sign of imbalanced semen composition especially of elements K, Ca, Cu and Zn. Human semen samples showing low or high baseline status of chemical elements concentrations were found in samples from all three diagnostic groups. However, correlation of K/Ca and Cu/Zn ratios, taking into account samples from all three groups of men, were negative at statistical significance level p = 0.01. We tested if the negative correlation between K/Ca and Cu/Zn ratio works for greater number of semen samples. We found the negative correlation to be valid for 175 semen samples at statistical significance of p = 0.00002. The ratio of K/Ca and Cu/Zn, i.e. increased concentrations of K and Zn in comparison to concentrations of Ca and Cu, were associated with a decrease of “straightness” in the group of men with normal spermiogram and pronounced spontaneous hyperactivation of spermatozoa, implying that these elements act in synergy and that the balance of elements and not their absolute concentrations plays the major role in premature spermatozoa hyperactivation in ejaculated semen.     

Chromosome abnormalities in sperm from infertile men with normal somatic karyotypes: teratozoospermia

Teratozoospermia is characterized by the presence of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology in sperm. This condition is frequently associated with infertility and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is frequently used as the treatment of choice. However, the use of ICSI has created consequential debate concerning the genetic risk for the offspring. Fluorescence in situ hybridization technique (FISH), allowing the specific identification of human chromosomes in sperm nuclei, has been used to study chromosome abnormalities in sperm from men with teratozoospermia and a normal karyotype. In this review, we present studies that have tried to determine if men with a normal blood karyotype but suffering from teratozoospermia present a higher aneuploidy frequency. The literature is limited to three forms of teratozoospermia. The first group consists of "polymorphic teratozoospermia", where a majority of spermatozoa display more than one type of abnormality. In this case, only a slight increase in aneuploidy frequency is observed, which cannot be differentiated from the results observed in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT). The second group, named "globozoospermia", is characterized by round spermatic heads, absence of acrosome and disorganization of mid-piece and tail. In this case, some studies have shown a significant, but moderate, increase in the aneuploidy frequency for acrocentrics and sex chromosomes. The aneuploidy frequency remains low, also ICSI can be proposed to these patients, but few successes occur. The third group consists of "enlarged head teratozoospermia", where almost all spermatozoa have an enlarged head, multiple tail and abnormal acrosome. In this case a very high level of missegregation is observed, leading to nearly 100% aneuploidy. In this particular group, ICSI must be refuted, and patients have to be redirected to other possibilities, like sperm donation.     

Progesterone receptors on human spermatozoa

Progesterone, primarily recognized as a female steroid hormone, is reported to affect several sperm functions especially capacitation, motility and acrosome reaction. These effects of progesterone on the spermatozoa are mediated via the progesterone binding sites/progesterone receptor (PR) on the acrosomal membrane. These receptors in response to progesterone increase the intercellular Ca2+ levels and stimulate Ca2+ influx in the mature human spermatozoa via non-genomic mode of actions. Characterization of this receptor reveals that the sperm PR is masked protein and is exposed to the surface by some non-ionic detergents. Localized on to the acrosome region of the spermatozoa, these receptors are recognized by most antibodies directed towards the C-terminal region of the conventional PR. The estimated molecular weight of PR on spermatozoa varies from 27 kDa to 85 kDa. At the molecular level, sequences encoding for the entire DNA and hormone binding domains of the conventional PR are detected in the mRNA derived from spermatozoa. No insertions, deletions or mutations are detected in this region. These results are suggestive of the fact that at least the C terminal region of the conventional PR is conserved in the sperm. It is hypothesized that post-translational modifications or peptide splicing of the conventional PR in spermatozoa may possibly lead to the variant of the steroid hormone receptor. Detailed characterization of the sperm PR will be important in understanding the alternate non-genomic mode of action of steroid hormone receptors.     

Relationship between sperm count, serum gonadotropins and testosterone levels in normo-, oligo- and azoospermia

In 92 men with normozoospermia (greater than 40 X 10(6)/ml), 105 with slight oligozoospermia (greater than 10 X 10(6)/ml), 100 with severe oligozoospermia (less than 10 X 10(6)/ml) and 56 with azoospermia, serum testosterone, LH and FSH were measured radioimmunologically. With an increasing degree of reduction of spermatozoa, a decreasing testosterone level and increasing LH and FSH levels could be demonstrated. In normozoospermia, between 40 and 140 X 10(6)/ml, a direct correlation was found between FSH and sperm count, and, in the group between 40 and 100 X 10(6)/ml, a direct correlation between T and sperm count. A disturbed LH:T balance is often observed which beside decreased serum T levels demonstrates a testicular deficiency in androgen production.     

Effets à court et à long termes de la cure de varicocèle sur les caractéristiques spermatiques

The authors studied the sperm features of 122 patients, before and 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months after varicocele repair, in order to define the sperm profiles of these patients and to study effects of this treatment on these profiles. Patients with varicocele generally present severe asthenozoospermia. Of the 122 patients studied: ?18% were extreme oligozoospermic, ?26% were severe oligozoospermic, ?18% were moderate oligozoospermic, ?38% were normozoospermic. Varicocele repair does not influence the volume of semen, the vitality of spermatozoa, their survival, their rate of abnormal shapes, or male genital tract markers, but significantly improves sperm counts and mobility, in men with extreme or severe oligozoospermia. This type of treatment is generally indicated in patients with extreme or severe oligoasthenozoospermia in order to obtain a natural pregnancy, or at least to increase the success of medically assisted procreation techniques.     

Aneuploid spermatozoa in infertile men: teratozoospermia.

We and others have demonstrated that infertile men who are candidates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have an increased frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm. Reports based on prenatal diagnosis of ICSI pregnancies have confirmed the increased frequency of chromosomal abnormalities in offspring. Most studies to date have lumped various types of infertility together. However, it is quite likely that some subsets of infertility have an increased risk of sperm chromosomal abnormalities whereas others do not. We have studied nine men with severe teratozoospermia (WHO, 1992 criteria, 0-13% morphologically normal forms) by multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis to determine if they have an increased frequency of disomy for chromosomes 13, 21, XX, YY, and XY, as well as diploidy. All of the men also had aesthenozoospermia (< 50% forward progression) but none of the men had oligozoospermia (<20 x 10(6) sperm/ml). The patients ranged in age from 20 to 49 years (mean 33.2 years) in comparison to 18 normal control donors who were 23 to 58 years (mean 35.6 years). The control donors had normal semen parameters and no history of infertility. A total of 180,566 sperm were scored in the teratozoospermic men with a minimum of 10,000 sperm analyzed/donor/chromosome probe. There was a significant increase in the frequency of disomy in teratozoospermic men compared to controls for chromosomes 13 (.23 vs.13%), XX (.13 vs.05%), and XY (.50 vs.30%) (P <.0001, 2-tailed Z statistic). This study indicates that men with teratozoospermia and aesthenozoospermia but with normal concentrations of sperm have a significantly increased frequency of sperm chromosomal abnormalities.     

Fatty acid composition of human spermatozoa and seminal plasma levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in subfertile males

INTRODUCTION: The lipid composition of the sperm membrane has a significant effect on the functional characteristics of spermatozoa. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present study, fatty acid composition of spermatozoa and seminal plasma levels of free 15-F(2t)-Isoprostane and catalase were assayed in men with normozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. RESULTS: In spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic men only oleic acid levels showed a significant difference from normozoospermic men. In spermatozoa from asthenoteratozoospermic and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic samples all of the tested fatty acids were significantly higher than those from normozoospermic samples. Seminal plasma levels of catalase were significantly lower in all patients while levels of free 15-F(2t)-Isoprostane were significantly higher in all patients compared with normozoospermic men. DISCUSSION: Spermatozoa from pathological samples may have higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), than spermatozoa from normozoospermic men. Therefore, damage induced by lipid peroxidation would be higher in spermatozoa from pathological samples than those from normozoospermic men.     

Flow cytometry application in the assessment of sperm DNA integrity of men with asthenozoospermia

Sperm genomic integrity and ultrastructural features of ejaculated spermatozoa contributing to the assessment of gamete fertility potential in patients with asthenozoospermia are discussed. The proportion of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly higher in the semen of patients with low sperm motility (n=40; p<0.01) as compared to men with normal sperm motility (n=54). Sperm DNA fragmentation negatively correlated (n=94) with sperm motility, sperm concentration, and integrity of the sperm cellular membrane (HOS-test). Two categories of patients were distinguished: (1) patients (23 out of 94 subjects) with < or = 4% of TUNEL-positive cells and (2) patients (71 subjects) with 4% of TUNEL-positive cells. A significant difference was noted in the sperm motility and HOS-test results between patients from both groups. Large numbers of immature spermatozoa with extensive cytoplasmic retention, ultrastructural chromatin and midpiece abnormalities, and conglomerates containing sperm fragments were present more frequently in the semen of asthenozoospermic subjects with >4% of TUNEL-positive sperm cells. Low sperm motility seems to be accompanied by serious defects of gamete chromatin expressed as diminished sperm genomic integrity and abnormal DNA condensation and by defects of sperm midpiece. These abnormalities may reflect developmental failure during the spermatogenic remodeling process. The DNA fragmentation test may be considered as an additional assay for the evaluation of spermatozoa beside standard analysis and taken together with electron microscopy may help to determine the actual number of "healthy" spermatozoa thereby playing an important role during diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.     

Is there a relationship between sperm chromosome abnormalities and sperm morphology?

This review explores the relationship between sperm chromosomal constitution and morphology. With the advent of techniques for obtaining information on the chromosome complements of spermatozoa, this relationship has been studied in fertile men and in men with a high frequency of chromosomal abnormalities. Using human sperm karyotype analysis, no relationship between sperm chromosome abnormalities and morphology was found in fertile men, translocation carriers or post-radiotherapy cancer patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis has not generally revealed a specific association between morphologically abnormal sperm and sperm chromosome abnormalities, but has indicated that teratozoospermia, like other forms of abnormal semen profiles (aesthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia) is associated with a modest increase in the frequency of sperm chromosome abnormalities. However, FISH studies on some infertile men and mouse strains have suggested that certain types of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, such as macrocephalic multitailed spermatozoa, are associated with a very significantly increased frequency of aneuploidy. Thus, there may be an association between sperm morphology and aneuploidy in infertile men with specific abnormalities.     

Correlation of the sperm morphology with the presence of aneuploidies in its nuclei in patients with astheno-, oligo-, and teratozoospermia

An analysis of numerical anomalies of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y was carried out using the FISH method before in vitro fertilization in the sperm nuclei of patients with astheno-, oligo, and teratozoospermia. The percentage of aneuploid spermatozoa was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in patients with oligozoospermia compared to patients with astheno- and teratozoospermia. A significant difference in the percentage of spermatozoa that carried a cytoplasmic droplet was revealed in patients with a content of aneuploid sperm of more than 1.0% and less than 0.2%.     

AFM对黄精赞育胶囊优选方处理前后大鼠弱精子超微结构的观察研究

目的:应用原子力显微镜技术实现对大鼠精子超微结构的实时成像,对比观察中药作用前后弱精子超微结构的变化.方法:制作少弱精症大鼠模型;运用非接触模式原子力显微镜技术对比观察正常精子和病理性精子在中药作用前后超微结构的动态变化.结果:获得精子头体、颈部和鞭毛等部位的实时超微结构图像.结论:AFM可直接探测精子头体的各种畸形,实现对精子全貌的观测.通过修复弱精子超微结构的病理形态学缺陷可能是黄精赞育胶囊优选方改善弱精子质量的机制之一.     

Sperm fatty acid composition in subfertile men

INTRODUCTION: The lipid composition of spermatozoa plays an important role for successful fertilization. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present study, we analyzed the fatty acid (FA) composition of spermatozoa of normozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, oligozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men. RESULTS: Spermatozoa from asthenozoospermic (P<0.01), oligozoospermic (P<0.05) and oligoasthenozoospermic men (P<0.05) had lower levels of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6w3, DHA) than those from normozoospermic men. In oligozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men, spermatozoa 18:0 content was higher than that of normozoospermics (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). 18:1w9 was higher in oligoasthenozoospermic and oligozoospermic samples when compared with normozoospermic samples (P<0.05 for both). While from the point of view of total w6 FAs there was no significant difference among the groups, the w6/w3 ratio was significantly higher in asthenozoospermic samples than in normozoospermic samples (P<0.05). Monounsaturated fatty acids (MFA) were higher in oligozoospermic samples (P<0.05) than in normozoospermic samples, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were lower in asthenozoospermic (P<0.01), oligoasthenozoospermic (P<0.05) and oligozoospermic samples (P<0.05) than in normozoospermic samples. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were significantly higher in asthenozoospermic (P<0.01) and oligozoospermic samples (P<0.05) compared with normozoospermic samples. In correlation analysis, there were significant positive correlations between DHA with sperm motility (r=0.53), sperm concentration (r=0.36) and normal sperm morphology (r=0.30). In addition, there were significant correlations between PUFA with sperm motility (r=0.50), sperm concentration (r=0.35), and normal sperm morphology (r=0.28), and between w6/w3 with sperm motility (r=-0.47), sperm concentration (r=-0.27), and normal sperm morphology(r=-0.24). DISCUSSION: These suggest that decreased DHA and PUFA, and increased w6/w3 in spermatozoa may be related to infertility in oligo- and/or asthenozoospermic men.     

Differential sensitivity of progesterone- and zona pellucida-induced acrosome reactions to pertussis toxin

Pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) have previously been shown to mediate the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction in mammalian sperm. In this study we compared the inhibitory effect of pertussis toxin on the zona-induced acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa with that on the reaction induced by progesterone, another physiological acrosome reaction-promoting stimulus associated with the ovulated oocyte. Up to the concentration of 1 μg/ml, pertussis toxin did not produce any direct effects on the acrosome reaction frequency nor did it influence sperm movement and viability. However, preincubation of spermatozoa with the toxin at a concentration of 100 ng/ml completely abolished the increase in the acrosome reaction frequency upon subsequent exposure to solubilized zona pellucida material. In contrast, the same treatment did not impair the ability of spermatozoa to initiate the acrosome reaction in response to progesterone. Moreover, the preincubation with pertussis toxin did not modify the changes in the intracellular concentration of calcium ions occurring after progesterone addition. These data suggest that different physiological stimuli may utilize different signal transduction pathways to induce the human sperm acrosome reaction. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Naissance après ICSI réalisée avec sperme éjaculé, congelé, chez un jeune patient de 21 ans porteur d’un syndrome de Klinefelter homogène

Klinefelter’s syndrome is one of the main genetic causes of male infertility, as it is diagnosed in 11% of patients with azoospermia and 4% of infertile men. This study reports a birth after ICSI performed with ejaculated sperm from a 21-year-old man with homogeneous nonmosaic Klinefelter’s syndrome discovered during assessment of infertility for severe oligozoospermia. Three ICSI were performed for this couple over an 18-month period. Pregnancy was not achieved after the first and second ICSI with fresh ejaculated sperm. At the third ICSI, the patient presented proven azoospermia on the day of the attempt, and frozen-thawed ejaculated spermatozoa were therefore used. A pregnancy was obtained after the transfer of 3 grade A embryos with the birth of a healthy girl. The authors highlight the value of repeated preventive sperm cryopreservation when ejaculated spermatozoa are available in all cases of severe oligozoospermia or cryptozoospermia. They also evaluated the quality (DNA fragmentation, ploidy) of the frozen/thawed spermatozoa.     

Chromosome abnormalities in sperm from infertile men with normal somatic karyotypes: oligozoospermia

Recently, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been extremely successful for the treatment of male infertility. However, transmission of cytogenetic defects to offspring is a great concern. There are two types of cytogenetic problems in patients seeking ICSI; one is the transmission of genetic defects from patients with constitutional chromosomal abnormalities and the second is the generation of de novo defects in infertile men. Generally about 5.1% of infertile men have chromosomal abnormalities. Among such infertile men, men with severe spermatogenesis defects, including oligozoospermia and azoospermia, are subjects for ICSI. Therefore it is very important to obtain cytogenetic information in these infertile patients. Furthermore, oligozoospermic men with a normal somatic karyotype also have increased frequencies of sperm chromosome abnormalities. Oligozoospermia is usually associated with other sperm alterations, for example oligoasthenozoospermia, oligoteratozoospemia and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. In this review, the relationship between sperm concentration and sperm aneuploidy frequencies has been analyzed. The inverse correlation between the frequency of sperm aneuploidy and concentration has been reported in extensive studies. Especially in severe oligozoospermia, a significantly higher frequency of sex chromosome aneuploidy has been observed and this has been corroborated in recent clinical outcome data of ICSI.     

AFM对黄精赞育胶囊优选方处理前后大鼠弱精子超微结构的观察研究（英文）

目的：应用原子力显微镜技术实现对大鼠精子超微结构的实时成像,对比观察中药作用前后弱精子超微结构的变化。方法：制作少弱精症大鼠模型;运用非接触模式原子力显微镜技术对比观察正常精子和病理性精子在中药作用前后超微结构的动态变化。结果：获得精子头体、颈部和鞭毛等部位的实时超微结构图像。结论：AFM可直接探测精子头体的各种畸形,实现对精子全貌的观测。通过修复弱精子超微结构的病理形态学缺陷可能是黄精赞育胶囊优选方改善弱精子质量的机制之一。     

Correlation between the spermatozoal characteristics and sperm penetration distance in polyacrylamide gel and bovine cervical mucus

Correlation between the spermatozoal characteristics and the sperm penetration distance in polyacrylamide gel was assessed, utilizing frozen thawed semen samples obtained from 6 bulls, and it was compared with the correlation between sperm penetration in bovine cervical mucus and spermatozoal characteristics. In vitro sperm penetration tests were performed with mucus and gel. The sperm penetration in gel and mucus was significantly and positively correlated with post-thaw motility (r=0.81; r=0.89:P<0.01) and acrosome integrity (r=0.88; r=0.94:P<0.01). A significant negative correlation with abnormal spermatozoa (r=-0.84;r=0.83:P<0.01) was observed. Both sperm concentration and post-thaw live spermatozoa were not significantly correlated. A significant multiple regression between sperm penetration and the spermatozoal characteristics both in gel (R2=0.87; F=40.27; P<0.01) and mucus (R2=0.91; F=60.48; P<0.01) was observed. The major spermatozoal characteristics determining the capacity of spermatozoa to penetrate gel were post-thaw motility, percentage of abnormal spermatozoa and acrosome integrity. The acrosome integrity has a more significant contribution. The correlation established with sperm penetration in gel was very similar to that of sperm penetration in mucus. The utility of gel as a mucus substitute in in vitro sperm penetration tests was discussed.     

Impact de la varicocélectomie chez les patients ayant une azoospermie non obstructive ou une oligozoospermie sévère

Objective

To evaluate the changes induced by retroperitoneal varicocelectomy on infertile men with nonobstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia.

Patients and methods

The records were retrospectively evaluated for 46 infertile men with severe oligozoospermia (group I) and 15 infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia (group II). The parameters of sperm before and after surgery and unassisted pregnancy rate were comparatively analysed.

Results

In the severe oligozoospermia group, the mean age of patients was 35.5 ± 6.4 (23–47 years). The mean duration of infertility was 4.9 ± 3.4 years (1–13 years). Of these patients, 41(89.1%) had bilateral varicocele and five (10.9%) had unilateral left-side varicocele. The varicocele was classified as grade I in two cases (4.3%), grade II in 39 cases (84.7%) and grade III in five cases (10.9%). After surgery, the mean sperm count increased from 1.85 ± 1.4 to 8.3 ± 10.3 millions/ml and mean sperm normal motility from 43.3 ± 21.5 to 47.6 ± 29.2%. The mean sperm abnormal morphology decreased from 65.05 ± 21.6 to 50.08 ± 26.9%. After a mean follow-up of 26.2 ± 11.6 months, the unassisted pregnancy rate in this group was 26.1%. In the non-obstructive azoospermia group (N = 15), the mean age of patients was 40.8 ± 7.2 (27–47 years). The mean duration of infertility was 6 ± 3.1 years (3–15 years). After varicocelectomy, an induction of spermatogenesis was observed in three patients (20%) with presence of motile sperm in the ejaculate. In this group, only one of the 15 men achieved unassisted pregnancy.

Conclusion

Retroperitoneal varicocele repair resulted in spermatogenesis induction with presence of motile ejaculated spermatozoa for some men with non-obstructive azoospermia. It induced spermatogenesis and fertility enhancement in men with severe oligozoospermia. Varicocele repair should be considered in men with non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia.     

Characterization of epididymal spermatozoa motility rate, morphology and longevity of springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), impala (Aepyceros melampus) and blesbok (Damaliscus dorcus phillipsi): pre- and post-cryopreservation in South Africa

Cryopreservation of antelope epididymal spermatozoa could play a vital role in future breeding by developing a successful protocol for cryo-conserving them. The aim of this study was to characterize morphology, motility rates and longevity of epididymal spermatozoa from springbok, impala and blesbok. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were collected post-mortem from both testicles of free-ranging springbok (n=18), impala (n=21) and blesbok (n=21), and divided into two groups (pre- and post-cryopreservation). Spermatozoa were cryopreserved in Biladyl supplemented with 20% egg yolk and 7% glycerol under field conditions. Pre-freeze and post-thaw sperm quality was evaluated. The longevity of thawed spermatozoa was evaluated under culture conditions that support domestic cattle in vitro fertilization. There was a significant difference between pre-freeze and post-thaw sperm motility index (SMI) (p<0.05), plasma membrane integrity (p<0.05) and acrosome integrity (p<0.05) for all species. Post-thaw SMI and plasma membrane integrity were comparable between species (p>0.05). The effects of cryopreservation on sperm cell morphology differed between species and between specific abnormal morphology. Blesbok had the least abnormalities in post-thaw spermatozoa. Cryopreservation substantially reduced the survivability and motility rates of antelope species. Blesbok spermatozoa tolerated cryopreservation and thawing process better than impala and springbok. The antelope cauda epididymal sperm maintained viability and acrosome integrity for at least 4h following incubation under conditions that support domestic cattle in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a decline in longevity over time across species however; species responded differently over time in terms of plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. The antelope species may have different in vitro culture requirements, indicating differences in sperm physiology between the species. This research could contribute species-specific protocol development for IVF thus promoting ex-situ conservation strategies of African antelope species in South Africa.