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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 10/2019

01-10-2019 | Infertility | Assisted Reproduction Technologies

Removal of DNA-fragmented spermatozoa using flow cytometry and sorting does not improve the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Authors: Christian De Geyter, Ursula Gobrecht-Keller, Astrid Ahler, Manuel Fischer

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 10/2019

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Abstract

Purpose

The DNA fragmentation in sperm is associated with reduced outcome in assisted reproduction. Using YoPro1 as the staining dye and flow cytometry and sorting (FACS), the number of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation can be lowered to 5%. Can the cumulative outcome of ICSI be improved using FACS?

Methods

A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 104 infertile couples with male infertility based on abnormal conventional semen analysis results. Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate was the primary outcome parameter. In 52 cases, semen was processed for ICSI using swim-up. In another 52 cases, spermatozoa with fragmented DNA were removed with FACS.

Results

The cumulative pregnancy rate at 12 weeks of gestation (51.9% versus 46.2%) and live birth rate (42.3% versus 34.6%) were higher and the miscarriage rate was lower (27.8% versus 35.3%) after FACS-sorting as compared with swim-up. An interim analysis scheduled before initiation of the study after 100 cases demonstrated that the aim of a 20% gain in pregnancy rate could not be achieved. For that reason, the prospective study was stopped prematurely.

Conclusions

A trend towards consistently better results was achieved by removing spermatozoa with fragmented DNA. The fragmentation of the DNA in sperm is the end stage of apoptosis. Sorting of spermatozoa may be improved by selecting parameters of processes active more upstream of apoptosis, such as chromatin decondensation.

Trial registration

NCT02166567. June 14, 2014.
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Metadata
Title
Removal of DNA-fragmented spermatozoa using flow cytometry and sorting does not improve the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Authors
Christian De Geyter
Ursula Gobrecht-Keller
Astrid Ahler
Manuel Fischer
Publication date
01-10-2019
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 10/2019
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01571-1

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Correction

Correction to: ICSI does not offer any benefit over conventional IVF across different ovarian response categories in non-male factor infertility: a European multicenter analysis