Microfabrication of low-cost customisable counting chambers for standardised estimation of sperm concentration
Yue Liu A B , Megan Chesnut B , Amy Guitreau B , Jacob Beckham A , Adam Melvin C , Jason Eades A , Terrence R. Tiersch B and William Todd Monroe
A D
A Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, E. B. Doran Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
B Aquatic Germplasm and Genetic Resources Center, School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 2288 Gourrier Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA.
C Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, 3314F Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: tmonroe@lsu.edu
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 32(9) 873-878 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD19154
Submitted: 3 May 2019 Accepted: 20 December 2019 Published: 27 May 2020
Abstract
Evaluation of sperm concentration is essential for research and procedures involving AI, cryopreservation and sperm quality assessment. Microfabrication technologies have shown tremendous potential for rapid prototyping and fabrication of devices to assist reproduction and fertility research, but such utility has not yet been made available for most reproduction laboratories. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using microfabrication techniques to produce counting chambers for estimation of sperm concentration. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) spermatozoa were used as a model for evaluation of functionality of the chambers. These microfabricated enumeration grid chambers (MEGC) were composed of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coverslip with grid patterns (100 μm × 100 μm) and a PDMS base platform to create a known volume with a 10-μm height to restrict the cells to a single layer. The results of cell counts estimated by two of three prototype MEGC devices tested were not significantly different from the control device, a commercially available Makler chamber. The material cost for a MEGC was less than US$0.10 compared with product costs of approximately US$100 for a standard haemocytometer and US$700 for a Makler counting chamber. This study demonstrates the feasibility of microfabrication in creating low-cost counting chambers to enhance standardisation and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations.
Additional keywords: aquatic models, cryopreservation, zebrafish.
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