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Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis

Various research tools have been used for in vitro detection of sperm chemotaxis. However, they are typically poor in maintenance of gradient stability, not to mention their low efficiency. Microfluidic device offers a new experimental platform for better control over chemical concentration gradient...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Zhang, Yi, Xiao, Rong-Rong, Yin, Tailang, Zou, Wei, Tang, Yun, Ding, Jinli, Yang, Jing
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Public Library of Science 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4640579/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26555941
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0142555
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author Zhang, Yi
Xiao, Rong-Rong
Yin, Tailang
Zou, Wei
Tang, Yun
Ding, Jinli
Yang, Jing
author_facet Zhang, Yi
Xiao, Rong-Rong
Yin, Tailang
Zou, Wei
Tang, Yun
Ding, Jinli
Yang, Jing
author_sort Zhang, Yi
collection PubMed
description Various research tools have been used for in vitro detection of sperm chemotaxis. However, they are typically poor in maintenance of gradient stability, not to mention their low efficiency. Microfluidic device offers a new experimental platform for better control over chemical concentration gradient than traditional ones. In the present study, an easy-handle diffusion-based microfluidic chip was established. This device allowed for conduction of three parallel experiments on the same chip, and improved the performance of sperm chemotaxis research. In such a chip, there were six channels surrounding a hexagonal pool. The channels are connected to the hexagon by microchannels. Firstly, the fluid flow in the system was characterized; secondly, fluorescein solution was used to calibrate gradient profiles formed in the central hexagon; thirdly, sperm behavior was observed under two concentration gradients of progesterone (100 pM and 1 mM, respectively) as a validation of the device. Significant differences in chemotactic parameters were recognized between experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, sperm motility was greatly enhanced in 1 mM group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in 100 pM group. In conclusion, we proposed a microfluidic device for the study of sperm chemotaxis that was capable of generating multi-channel gradients on a chip and would help reduce experimental errors and save time in experiment.
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spelling pubmed-46405792015-11-13 Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis Zhang, Yi Xiao, Rong-Rong Yin, Tailang Zou, Wei Tang, Yun Ding, Jinli Yang, Jing PLoS One Research Article Various research tools have been used for in vitro detection of sperm chemotaxis. However, they are typically poor in maintenance of gradient stability, not to mention their low efficiency. Microfluidic device offers a new experimental platform for better control over chemical concentration gradient than traditional ones. In the present study, an easy-handle diffusion-based microfluidic chip was established. This device allowed for conduction of three parallel experiments on the same chip, and improved the performance of sperm chemotaxis research. In such a chip, there were six channels surrounding a hexagonal pool. The channels are connected to the hexagon by microchannels. Firstly, the fluid flow in the system was characterized; secondly, fluorescein solution was used to calibrate gradient profiles formed in the central hexagon; thirdly, sperm behavior was observed under two concentration gradients of progesterone (100 pM and 1 mM, respectively) as a validation of the device. Significant differences in chemotactic parameters were recognized between experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, sperm motility was greatly enhanced in 1 mM group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in 100 pM group. In conclusion, we proposed a microfluidic device for the study of sperm chemotaxis that was capable of generating multi-channel gradients on a chip and would help reduce experimental errors and save time in experiment. Public Library of Science 2015-11-10 /pmc/articles/PMC4640579/ /pubmed/26555941 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0142555 Text en © 2015 Zhang et al http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are properly credited.
spellingShingle Research Article
Zhang, Yi
Xiao, Rong-Rong
Yin, Tailang
Zou, Wei
Tang, Yun
Ding, Jinli
Yang, Jing
Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis
title Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis
title_full Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis
title_fullStr Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis
title_full_unstemmed Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis
title_short Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis
title_sort generation of gradients on a microfluidic device: toward a high-throughput investigation of spermatozoa chemotaxis
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4640579/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26555941
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0142555
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