The capacity for microscopic evaluation of sperm is useful for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), because this can allow for specific selection of sperm cells for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The objective of this study was to analyze the same sperm samples using two high-resolution methods: spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine if with one method there was more timely and different information obtained than the other. To address this objective, there was evaluation of sperm populations from boars and stallions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported comparison when using AFM and high-sensitivity interferometric microscopy (such as SLIM) to evaluate spermatozoa. Results indicate that with the use of SLIM microscopy there is similar nanoscale sensitivity as with use of AFM while there is approximately 1,000 times greater throughput with use of SLIM. With SLIM, there is also allowace for the measurement of the dry mass (non-aqueous content) of spermatozoa, which may be a new label-free marker for sperm viability. In the second part of this study, there was analysis of two sperm populations. There were interesting correlations between the different compartments of the sperm and the dry mass in both boars and stallions. Furthermore, there was a correlation between the dry mass of the sperm head and the length and width of the acrosome in both boars and stallions. This correlation is positive in boars while it is negative in stallions.

对精子进行显微镜评估的能力对于辅助生殖技术 (ART) 很有用，因为这可以允许在体外对精子细胞进行特定选择受精（IVF）。本研究的目的是使用两种高分辨率方法分析相同的精子样本：空间光干涉显微镜 (SLIM) 和原子力显微镜 (AFM)，以确定使用一种方法是否比另一种方法获得更及时和不同的信息. 为了实现这一目标，对来自公猪和种马的精子数量进行了评估。据我们所知，这是使用 AFM 和高灵敏度干涉显微镜（如 SLIM）评估精子时首次报道的比较。结果表明，使用 SLIM 显微镜具有与使用 AFM 相似的纳米级灵敏度，而使用 SLIM 的吞吐量大约提高了 1,000 倍。与纤薄，还允许测量精子的干质量（非水含量），这可能是精子活力的一种新的无标记标记。在本研究的第二部分，对两个精子群体进行了分析。精子的不同部分与公猪和种马的干物质之间存在有趣的相关性。此外，公猪和种马精子头部的干质量与顶体的长度和宽度之间存在相关性。这种相关性在公猪中为正，而在种马中为负。此外，公猪和种马精子头部的干质量与顶体的长度和宽度之间存在相关性。这种相关性在公猪中为正，而在种马中为负。此外，公猪和种马精子头部的干质量与顶体的长度和宽度之间存在相关性。这种相关性在公猪中为正，而在种马中为负。