Abstract
BackgroundIn assisted reproduction procedures, we need to develop and enhance new protocols to optimize sperm selection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of the Z potential technique to select sperm with intact DNA in non-normospermic patients and evaluate the impact of this selection on embryonic development.MethodsWe analyzed a total of 174 human seminal samples with at least one altered parameter. We measured basal, post density gradients, and post density gradients + Z potential DNA fragmentation index. To evaluate the impact of this technique on embryo development, 54 cases were selected. The embryo development parameters evaluated were fertilization rate, cleavage rate, top quality embryos at the third day and blastocysts rate.ResultsWe found significant differences in the study groups when we compared the sperm fragmentation index by adding the Z potential technique to density gradient selection vs. density gradients alone. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the embryo development parameters between the low sperm fragmentation index group vs. the moderate and high sperm fragmentation index groups, when selecting sperms with this new technique.ConclusionsThe Z potential technique is a very useful tool for sperm selection; it significantly reduces the DNA fragmentation index and improves the parameters of embryo development. This technique could be considered routine for its simplicity and low cost.
Highlights
IntroductionIn approximately 50% of these cases, the underlying problem lies in the male factor, a multifactor syndrome that encompasses a wide variety of disorders (Varghese et al, 2008; O'Flynn O'Brien et al, 2010)
Primary infertility is mainly defined as the incapacity of a couple to conceive within 12 months of periodic sexual intercourse without any contraceptive method; this condition affects approximately 15% of couples in reproductive age and its prevalence is increasing (Evers, 2002; Zegers-Hochschild et al, 2009).In approximately 50% of these cases, the underlying problem lies in the male factor, a multifactor syndrome that encompasses a wide variety of disorders (Varghese et al, 2008; O'Flynn O'Brien et al, 2010)
To determine in which group there is a greater reduction of the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) by the density gradient centrifugation (DGC) + PZ technique, we analyzed the difference between the reduction values in each group
Summary
In approximately 50% of these cases, the underlying problem lies in the male factor, a multifactor syndrome that encompasses a wide variety of disorders (Varghese et al, 2008; O'Flynn O'Brien et al, 2010). Seminal preparation techniques routinely used for assisted reproduction treatments are density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and swim-up These techniques focus their methodology on the basics of sedimentation or migration to separate the best spermatozoa, and they are both efficient in selecting morphologically normal sperms with a high degree of nuclear maturity (Le Lannou & Blanchard, 1988). Other important sperm characteristics such as DNA integrity, apoptosis, membrane maturation and ultrastructure are not directly addressed by these techniques, even more so when we start from a sample showing asthenozoospermia and/ or teratozoospermia These techniques do not guarantee the genomic integrity of the selected spermatozoa (Marchesi et al, 2010). The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of the Z potential technique to select sperm with intact DNA in non-normospermic patients and evaluate the impact of this selection on embryonic development
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