I'm trying to get better contrast between sperm cells and the ambient fluid under a light microscope, but I need the sperm to remain alive after staining to evaluate their motility. Is there a good dye for this (does not have to be specifically for spermatozoa)?
Hi Daniel
Thanks for posting your question. Please check the link below for some relevant information which may be of help. What sprm do you work on (mammalian/insect)?
http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs/40249/InTech-Molecular_markers_in_sperm_analysis.pdf
If you find a nontoxic dye for he sperm cell... it would be a new light for the science..
Agree with Eva - if you have good contrast optics, that is the best way to see live sperm, other stains very likely to have negative effects on viability and motility
We used fluorescent CFDA/PI stain for live sperm, so if fluorescence is an option, that one works well.
My colleague has suggested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haematoxylin. Or, we have taken a sample and split it three ways (motility, vitality and concentration).
Dear Daniel,
You can use phase, or interference contrast,, darkfield, or simply a lowered condensor for better visualization of untained motile and immotile spermatozoa.
We use a cheap and permanent complex viability and acrosome staining..
Hi Daniel, I'm a senior certified clinical embryologist and labo director. I do agree withthe people recommending the use of simple phase contrast microscopy , no need for a dye that might influence the motility positively or negatively. You can even use a darkfield or scattered light binocular if you do not need high magnification.
But was is the type of fluid you are having the sperms collected in ? You can contact me via www.quartec.co
Thank you, everyone.
I'll take your recommendations under advisement.
We are a Nanotechnology company that has developed fertility treatments for sperm. We collect and deplete moribund sperm and enrich for viable sperm and or Gender. We have worked with a variety of species; bovine,Equine,porcine,human, canine dolphins, etc. . Let me know your interest in working with us.We are looking for partners to help optimize this technology as well as other aspects of fertility. [Fetal cell isolation and enrichment]
Henry
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