Acrosomal morphology as a novel criterion for male fertility diagnosis: relation with acrosin activity, morphology (strict criteria), and fertilization in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationships between sperm acrosin activity, sperm morphology evaluated according to strict criteria, visually observed acrosomal morphology, and IVF rates.


METHODS
Prospective analytic study. Acrosin activity was determined on all semen samples together with a standard semen analysis. Emphasis was placed on sperm morphology and especially a novel criterion viz acrosome morphology (acrosome index) as recorded with bright field microscopy.


METHODS
University-based tertiary care center.


METHODS
Thirty-three couples undergoing IVF or GIFT with two or more metaphase II ova inseminated in vitro.


METHODS
In vitro fertilization rates of inseminated ova.


RESULTS
Strong correlations were found between acrosome index, normal sperm morphology, and IVF rates. An acrosome index cutoff value could be established at > 10% normal acrosomes for IVF rates of > or = 50% (sensitivity and specificity = 100%) and an acrosin activity cutoff value at > 18 microIU/10(6) sperm. A multiple linear regression analysis showed that the acrosome index and acrosin activity added a significant contribution to the explanation of the variation in the fertilization rates.


CONCLUSIONS
A strong positive correlation was found between acrosome index and IVF rates. Although the numbers of the study are small, the results indicate that the acrosome index possibly may be regarded as an additional tool in the prediction of IVF outcome and especially may be of value in the group of men with severe teratozoospermia, i.e., < or = 4% morphologically normal spermatozoa.
Menkveld
R
R
Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
Rhemrev
J P
JP
Franken
D R
DR
Vermeiden
J P
JP
Kruger
T F
TF
D000176:Acrosin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000177:Acrosome / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism
D000176:Acrosin