The effect of in-vitro myoinositol supplementation of human sperm on the outcome of cryopreservation

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of in vitro Myo- inositol supplementation of cryopreserved human semen on the post-thaw sperm quality. Design: A randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Materials and Methods: The study included 41 fresh semen samples obtained from 41 infertile men. Following routine semen analysis and estimation of sperm motion kinetics by CASA, each sample was divided into 2 identical aliquots. One aliquot (Myo- aliquot) was cryopreserved after Myo-inositol supplementation, while the other aliquot was cryopreserved as it is. Semen analysis and sperm motion kinetics were re – estimated and sperm cryosurvival rate was calculated for both aliquots after thawing. Results: Among patients with abnormal semen samples, Myo aliquot showed a highly significant increase in the following parameters in comparison with control aliquot: Percentage of progressive motility (P< 0.00001), percentage of total motility (P=0.00001), cryosurvival rate (P< 0.00001) and PR recovery rate (P< 0.0001). All sperm motion kinetics were also higher in Myo aliquot than control aliquot among this group, but failed to reach a statistical significant difference. Conclusion: in vitro myoinositol supplementation of human sperm prior to cryopreservation resulted in a highly significant increase in cryosurvival rate among abnormal semen samples, and an increase in cryosurvival rate among normozoopermic samples that failed to reach a statistical significant difference. These findings may pave the way to include myoinositol in the manufacture of human sperm cryopreservation media.