Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the addition of Glutathione to sperm freezing medium and cryosurvival rate of sperm motility and viability in asthenozoospermic patients . Methodology : fifty nine semen samples of asthenozoospermic patients were obtained from the male partner of infertile couples attending the fertility center of al-sadder medical teaching city in Al-Najaf during the period 1st October 2016 until 1st March 2017. Each semen sample was divided into four equal parts , volume of each part is 0.5 ml : first part ( before activation ) , second part ( after activation ) ,third part (cryopreservation with sperm freezing medium for one month) , and fourth part (cryopreservation with sperm freezing medium plus glutathione for one month ) . Sperm concentration , sperm progressive motility, sperm viability and sperm normal morphology were counted in first two parts , cryosurvival rate of sperm motility, viability was counted in third and fourth parts . Statistical analysis of the study performed by using Independent t-test and paired test to assess the differences between two groups . Results: After sperm activation by using the swim up technique ,the study results showed significant increase ( P < 0.01 ) of progressive sperm motility , normal sperm morphology and sperm viability , while there were a significant decrease (P < 0.01 ) of sperm concentration . cryosurvival rate of sperm motility and viability were significant decrease ( p < 0.01 ) after cryopreservation and thawing processes while the results were revealed significant improvement in cryosurvival rate of sperm motility , and viability ( p < 0.01 ) after the addition of glutathione to the sperm freezing medium. Conclusion: it can concluded from this study that addition of glutathione to sperm freeze medium improves ( p < 0.01 ) cryosurvival rate of sperm motility and viability during cryopreservation and thawing processes .