Pharmacological stimulation of sperm motility in frozen and thawed testicular sperm using the dimethylxanthine theophylline

Ebner, Thomas; Tews, G; Mayer, RB; Ziehr, Stephanie C.; Arzt, W; Costamoling, Walter; Shebl, Omar

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.08.041

Cited by 63 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Interestingly, theophylline, a related agent, has been investigated for this purpose to a much lesser extent although it seems to be less harmful and it shows a longer bioavailability than pentoxyphylline [19]. Recently, a commercially available theophylline product was tested in azoospermic patients [19] and led to significantly higher rates of fertilization, blastocyst formation, implantation, and clinical pregnancy as compared to an untreated control group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where available, motile sperm were injected into the oocytes. To compensate for immotility those samples with bad prognosis were further treated with a ready-to-use theophylline agent (GM501 SpermMobil TM , Gynemed) as described previously [19]. Since this particular methylxanthine reaches its activity maximum within minutes, ICSI could be done immediately after this stimulation step.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A new method to process testicular sperm: combining enzymatic digestion, accumulation of spermatozoa, and stimulation of motility

Wöber¹,

Ebner

Steiner³

et al. 2014

Arch Gynecol Obstet

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A new method to process testicular sperm: combining enzymatic digestion, accumulation of spermatozoa, and stimulation of motility

Wöber¹,

Ebner

Steiner³

et al. 2014

Arch Gynecol Obstet

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“…Several tests such as the HOS test, the mechanical touch technique or the use of chemical compounds have been developed (Liu et al, 1997;Ved et al, 1997;Nassar et al, 1999; Soares et al, Table 2 Hormonal, testicular and lab parameters of patient groups in the obstructive, non-obstructive and ejaculatory disorder group (mean value and in brackets the range and patient numbers). Values were compared using t-test Sallam et al, 2005;Ebner et al, 2011). These techniques help to identify the vital spermatozoa among a cohort of immotile spermatozoa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These activated spermatozoa were used for ICSI and resulted in a pregnancy (Yildirim et al, 2009). A similar chemical compound named theophylline was used in a prospective clinical trial by Ebner et al (2011). The incubation of immotile frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa with theophylline resulted in significantly higher fertilization and blastulation rates as well as in higher clinical pregnancy and implantation rates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing TESE‐ICSI by laser‐assisted selection of immotile spermatozoa and polarization microscopy for selection of oocytes

et al. 2012

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SUMMARYFor most azoospermic men testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is the only treatment, however it presents challenges for the ART laboratory, as the retrieval of motile spermatozoa is difficult. In the absence of sperm movement no unequivocal distinction can be made between either dead or immotile, but vital spermatozoa. However, a single laser shot directed to the tip of the tail allows recognition of viability because the flagellum coils at the area of impact. To rank the quality and the maturity of oocytes, polarization microscopy can be used. The zona score and the visualization of the meiotic spindle correlate with implantation and pregnancy rates. We compared 65 TESE-ICSI cycles of the years 2007 and 2008 (Group 1, G1) with 58 TESE-ICSI cycles of the years 2009 and 2010 (Group 2, G2). Testicular spermatozoa were injected according to motility and morphology into selected oocytes. In G1 both, oocyte and spermatozoa were rated using light microscopy only, whereas in G2 the laser was used for sperm selection and the oocytes were rated by light and polarization microscopy. In G2 we enhanced our fertilization rate (FR) significantly in comparison to G1 (G1 42.1% vs. G2 52.7%, p < 0.001). The fertilization rate with immotile, but vital spermatozoa improved significantly when applying laser-based selection (p = 0.006). The laser selection of immotile spermatozoa and the use of polarization microscopy can enhance the FR of TESE-ICSI. No negative effect of the laser was seen on birth rates. The FR with immotile, but vital spermatozoa clearly benefits from laser selection and is a non-hazardous and safe method for the selection of viable but immotile sperm. To our knowledge this is the first report using new technology creating novel endpoints for the analysis of spermatozoa and oocytes in TESE-ICSI.

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“…Since pentoxifylline has a shorter half-life than other dimethylxanthines (which are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase activity) it was decided to use theophylline in the present case because this agent had turned out to partly restore motility under comparable conditions [32,33]. Since this approach quite unexpectedly failed, an alternative activation attempt was sought, this time targeting the oocyte.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Healthy twin live-birth after ionophore treatment in a case of theophylline-resistant Kartagener syndrome

Ebner

Maurer

Oppelt

et al. 2015

J Assist Reprod Genet

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Purpose To evaluate whether it is a feasible option to target the oocyte (with Ca 2+ -ionophore) in case that sperm motility cannot be restored in Kartagener syndrome. Methods A case of a male Kartagener syndrome with exclusively immotile spermatozoa that did not react to the dimethylxanthine theophylline. Thus, half of the associated oocytes were treated for 15 min with the ready-to-use-ionophore CultActive immediately after ICSI whereas the other 50 % were injected with routine ICSI without artificial oocyte activation. Rates of fertilization, blastulation, pregnancy and live birth were evaluated. Results Fertilization check revealed that none of the conventionally injected but 4/6 (66.7 %) of the artificially activated oocytes showed two pronuclei. Three embryos were of good and one of fair quality. Corresponding blastocyst formation rate was 3 out of 4 (75 %). A double embryo transfer led to a healthy twin birth in the 34th week of gestation (two boys with a birth weight of 1724 g and 2199 g). Conclusions This case indicates that Ca 2+-ionophore treatment in cycles from theophylline-resistant Kartagener syndrome patients is a feasible option. The future will show if routine application of A23187 in Kartagener or primary cilia dyskinesis patients will be of benefit.

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Pharmacological stimulation of sperm motility in frozen and thawed testicular sperm using the dimethylxanthine theophylline

Cited by 63 publications

References 52 publications

A new method to process testicular sperm: combining enzymatic digestion, accumulation of spermatozoa, and stimulation of motility

A new method to process testicular sperm: combining enzymatic digestion, accumulation of spermatozoa, and stimulation of motility

Optimizing TESE‐ICSI by laser‐assisted selection of immotile spermatozoa and polarization microscopy for selection of oocytes

Healthy twin live-birth after ionophore treatment in a case of theophylline-resistant Kartagener syndrome

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