Are the annexin V microbeads, a real solution to sperm DNA fragmentation?

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to assess the effect of annexin V microbeads on cycles with abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation (>20%), in fertilization, embryo quality and success rate.DesignAnalytic Retrospective Observational study.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed 88 cycles of Assisted Reproduction treatments.All patients had abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation and previously had undergone one or more unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI.The cycles were divided into two groups:Group 1: unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI.Group 2: cycles with sperm sorting with annexin V columns (36 cycles) from these same partners.The sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling).The embryos were evaluated according to criteria of the Spanish Association for Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR). The transfer was performed on day 3 of embryo development.ResultsNo significant differences were found between groups or age, nor in the rates of fertilization (P>0.05). However, embryo quality did show statistically significant differences, being higher the number of top quality embryos (A, P=0.004. A+B, P=0.02) in group 2.ConclusionThe results suggest that the use of annexin V columns improves embryo quality in couples with previous failure in IVF/ICSI. So it could be used, as a useful tool, in patients with previous IVF failures. The fertilization rate shows no significant differences. This may be because sperm with fragmented DNA were capable of fertilizing the egg as effectively as sperm without DNA fragmentation. ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to assess the effect of annexin V microbeads on cycles with abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation (>20%), in fertilization, embryo quality and success rate. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of annexin V microbeads on cycles with abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation (>20%), in fertilization, embryo quality and success rate. DesignAnalytic Retrospective Observational study. Analytic Retrospective Observational study. Materials and MethodsWe analyzed 88 cycles of Assisted Reproduction treatments.All patients had abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation and previously had undergone one or more unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI.The cycles were divided into two groups:Group 1: unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI.Group 2: cycles with sperm sorting with annexin V columns (36 cycles) from these same partners.The sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling).The embryos were evaluated according to criteria of the Spanish Association for Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR). The transfer was performed on day 3 of embryo development. We analyzed 88 cycles of Assisted Reproduction treatments.All patients had abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation and previously had undergone one or more unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI.The cycles were divided into two groups: Group 1: unsuccessful cycles of IVF/ICSI. Group 2: cycles with sperm sorting with annexin V columns (36 cycles) from these same partners. The sperm DNA fragmentation was assessed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling).The embryos were evaluated according to criteria of the Spanish Association for Reproductive Biology (ASEBIR). The transfer was performed on day 3 of embryo development. ResultsNo significant differences were found between groups or age, nor in the rates of fertilization (P>0.05). However, embryo quality did show statistically significant differences, being higher the number of top quality embryos (A, P=0.004. A+B, P=0.02) in group 2. No significant differences were found between groups or age, nor in the rates of fertilization (P>0.05). However, embryo quality did show statistically significant differences, being higher the number of top quality embryos (A, P=0.004. A+B, P=0.02) in group 2. ConclusionThe results suggest that the use of annexin V columns improves embryo quality in couples with previous failure in IVF/ICSI. So it could be used, as a useful tool, in patients with previous IVF failures. The fertilization rate shows no significant differences. This may be because sperm with fragmented DNA were capable of fertilizing the egg as effectively as sperm without DNA fragmentation. The results suggest that the use of annexin V columns improves embryo quality in couples with previous failure in IVF/ICSI. So it could be used, as a useful tool, in patients with previous IVF failures. The fertilization rate shows no significant differences. This may be because sperm with fragmented DNA were capable of fertilizing the egg as effectively as sperm without DNA fragmentation.