Diagnostic accuracy of computer-assisted sperm motion analysis

Abstract

One retrospective and two prospective studies were conducted among 218 couples treated with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to establish the reproducibility and diagnostic accuracy of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with swim-up spermatozoa for the prediction of the fertilization rate of oocytes in vitro. Based on the results of a preliminary retrospective analysis in 49 patients, the 'curvilinear velocity' (VCL) was chosen as the most distinctive motion parameter of sperm function and the median was used to represent the entire sperm population. The number of inseminated motile spermatozoa was then adjusted to median VCL during two subsequent prospective studies with clinical IVF. Whereas in the first prospective study (90 couples) the threshold values of VCL with regard to the number of spermatozoa inseminated were based on the results of the preliminary retrospective study (49 couples), in the second prospective study (79 couples) the settings were based on the results of the first prospective study. The reproducibility of CASA was tested by analysing the motion characteristics of spermatozoa at different intervals after termination of swim-up, by repeated analysis of the same video-recording of the incubated spermatozoa by different observers, and by the repeated video-recording of the freshly prepared sperm samples and analysis of both video-recordings by the same observer. Under these conditions the frequency of disagreement between two measurements varied between 2.0 and 8.2%. In both prospective studies the sensitivity of CASA for the prediction of fertilization was high (74.0%), whereas the specificity was low (40.0%). In contrast to successful fertilization, unsuccessful fertilization of oocytes in vitro could not be predicted reliably with CASA. However, the pregnancy rate per cycle among patients with predicted low fertilization rates was significantly lower (5.3%) than in couples with high predicted fertilization rates (24.3%, P < 0.001). Therefore, CASA of washed spermatozoa may still help to identify couples who would benefit more from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) than from IVF. A definite threshold level could not be identified for any of the motion parameters to distinguish the motion characteristics of fertilizing and non-fertilizing spermatozoa. Using various algorithms for hyperactivated motility, the percentage of hyperactivated spermatozoa was significantly higher among the successfully fertilizing patients than among the nonfertilizing group. However, the absolute number of hyperactivated spermatozoa added to the oocytes was higher in non-fertilizing couples. Therefore, the lack of fertilization in some patients may be caused by a generalized defect in sperm function rather than by insufficient hyperactivation.

Effect of two freezing extenders on characteristic of fresh and frozen-thawed semen in endangered Old Kladruber stallions - A pilot study

“…In full size purebred stallions, only VCL was affected by extender after 3 h of incubation at 5°C (Phetudomsinsuk et al 2009), suggesting the possibly higher sensitivity to semen extender composition in Old Kladruber stallions. Clearly higher values of VCL in ejaculates where Gent extender was used might provide useful information on better cryotolerance (Ortega-Ferrusola et al 2009) and fertilizing ability (De Geyter et al 1998) of sperm diluted with this extender. This was supported in our study because Gent extender maintained post-thaw motility at a significantly higher level than Lact extender.…”

Kinematic Changes During the Cryopreservation of Boar Spermatozoa

“…Several studies have tried to elucidate whether kinematic parameters in motile spermatozoa were useful for the prediction of in vivo or in vitro fertility, mainly in humans (De Geyter et al, 1998). The 7 kinematic parameters selected in the present study have been previously correlated elsewhere with in vivo fertility.…”

Effects of boron (sodium pentaborate), added instead of Tris components, on freezing and post-thaw quality of Angora buck semen

“…It has also been notified that STR and LIN values are paralel to the fertilisation ability. On the other hand, De geyter et al, (5) have noted that higher VSL parameter in human semen increases the fertilisation ability. Similar to this research, Robayo et al, (20) have studied goat semens motility properties and as a result notified that high VCL and VAP valued semen have higher ability to pass through servical mucus and that the results obtained have statistical importance.…”