HUMAN SPERM DECONDENSATION IN VITRO IS RELATED TO CLEAVAGE RATE AND EMBRYO QUALITY IN IVF

GALOTTO C; CAMBIASSO MY; JULIANELLI V; REY VALZACCHI G; ROLANDO R; RODRIGUEZ L; CALVO L; CALVO JC; ROMANATO M

JOURNAL OF ASSISTED REPRODUCTION AND GENETICS.

SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS

Lugar: New York; Año: 2019

1058-0468

Capsule:Human sperm decondensation kinetics invitro distinguishes two subgroups of patients, fast and slow decondensers.Slow decondensation could be detrimental to embryo quality and live birth ratein assisted reproduction. Purpose: To investigate whether the ability of human spermatozoa to decondense in vitro in the presence of heparin(Hep) and glutathione (GSH) is related to assisted reproduction (ART) success. Methods:Cross sectional pilot study involving male partners of 129 infertilecouples undergoing ICSI with (45) or without (84) donor oocytes at twoinfertility clinics in CABA, Argentina, between October 2012 and December 2013.In vitro decondensation kinetics withHep and GSH and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) were determined on the same sampleused for ICSI. The possible relationship of decondensation parameters (maximumdecondensation and decondensation velocity) and TUNEL values with ART successwas evaluated. Results: Embryo quality correlated positively with decondensation velocity(D60/D30) (Spearman, p<0.05). According to D60/D30 values, patients wereclassified as slow decondensers (SlowD) (n=68) or fast decondensers (FastD)(n=61). Embryo quality was better in FastD (Unpaired t Test, p<0.05). FastDand SlowD were subdivided according to use of donor oocytes. Among SlowD,biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates per transfer were significantly higherin donor (n=19) vs. non donor (n=31) cycles (Fisher?s Exact Test, p<0.05). TUNELvalues were not related to embryo quality but no clinical pregnancies or livebirths were achieved in TUNEL+ SlowD (n=7). Conclusion: Decondensation kinetics of human spermatozoa in vitro with Hep and GSH could be related to embryo quality andART success.