Sperm function and assisted reproduction technology

Abstract

The evaluation of different functional sperm parameters has become a tool in andrological diagnosis. These assays determine the sperm's capability to fertilize an oocyte. It also appears that sperm functions and semen parameters are interrelated and interdependent. Therefore, the question arose whether a given laboratory test or a battery of tests can predict the outcome in in vitro fertilization (IVF).One-hundred and sixty-one patients who underwent an IVF treatment were selected from a database of 4178 patients who had been examined for male infertility 3 months before or after IVF. Sperm concentration, motility, acrosin activity, acrosome reaction, sperm morphology, maternal age, number of transferred embryos, embryo score, fertilization rate and pregnancy rate were determined. In addition, logistic regression models to describe fertilization rate and pregnancy were developed. All the parameters in the models were dichotomized and intra-and interindividual variability of the parameters were assessed. Although the sperm parameters showed good correlations with IVF when correlated separately, the only essential parameter in the multivariate model was morphology. The enormous intra-and interindividual variability of the values was striking. In conclusion, our data indicate that the andrological status at the end of the respective treatment does not necessarily represent the status at the time of IVF. Despite a relatively low correlation coefficient in the logistic regression model, it appears that among the parameters tested, the most reliable parameter to predict fertilization is normal sperm morphology. (Reprod Med Biol 2005; 4: 7-30) Key words: assisted reproduction, high intra-and interindividual variability, multivariate approach, prediction of outcome of IVF, sperm functions.

Prognostic markers for competent human spermatozoa: fertilizing capacity and contribution to the embryo

“…Extending histological evaluation, spermatid-specific genes may be used as a biomarker (Yamamoto et al, 2002a;Steger, 2003;Bergmann, 2006;Yan, 2009). Moreover, there is a need for prognostic markers estimating the fertilizing capacity of either testicular spermatids or ejaculated spermatozoa with regard to the outcome of ICSI (Chemes & Rawe, 2003;Henkel et al, 2005;Zitzmann et al, 2006;Steger et al, 2008;Barroso et al, 2009;Krawetz, 2005;Zini & Sigman, 2009).…”

“…As basic semen analysis is descriptive, it remains a surrogate measure of male fertility with limited prognostic significance (Comhaire, 2000;Guzick et al, 2001). Hence, sequential analysis of the fertilizing potential of spermatozoa may include functional assays, such as acrosomal reaction or zona pellucida binding (Henkel et al, 2005). So far, no single parameter or battery of assays definitely describes the fertilizing competence of spermatozoa either in vitro or in vivo.…”

“…Both intrinsic factors, like oxidative stress (Henkel et al, 2005), and extrinsic factors, like drugs (e.g. chemotherapy), smoking, genital tract inflammation, testicular hyperthermia and varicocoele, seem to have an influence on DNA strand breaks (reviewed in Zini & Sigman, 2009).…”

The correlation between progesterone/MII oocyte ratio on the day of trigger and ICSI outcome

“…To perform this technique requires a complex assisted reproduction laboratory. However, the high costs of IVF / ICSI treatments prevent many couples with subfertility from accessing these treatments (Henkel et al, 2005).…”

Overcoming male factor infertility with intracytoplasmic sperm injection

“…[1][2][3] Although successful outcomes have been obtained in cases of male factor infertility, conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) has proved ineffective for patients with seminal parameters that do not meet the minimum cut-off values determined by the World Health Organization. 4,5 The advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) improved the odds of pregnancy in patients with seminal abnormalities, such as reduced sperm count, motility and percentage of morphologically normal cells.…”