Spermac stain analysis of human sperm acrosomes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the association between low percentages of intact sperm acrosomes and fertilization failures in conventional IVF procedures.


METHODS
A retrospective study.


METHODS
Clinical and academic research environment.


METHODS
Patients undergoing treatment of infertility.


METHODS
Sperm cells were fixed and stained using the Spermac stain.


METHODS
Percentages of intact acrosomes and fertilization.


RESULTS
There was a significant association between specimens with <40% intact acrosomes and failed conventional IVF procedures. Among the 29 cases with <40% intact acrosomes, 9 cases (31%) resulted in zero penetration of the oocytes. The mean (+/-SEM) percentage of fertilization was lower in the abnormal acrosome group (43.3% +/- 6.5%) than in the normal acrosome group (64.1% +/- 5.6%). The status of the sperm acrosome was not correlated with the results of fertilization in intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Sperm with low percentages of intact acrosomes were associated with failed fertilization. The Spermac stain was useful for assessing acrosomes and identifying possible male factor infertility problems. The results suggested that a minimum percentage of sperm with intact acrosomes are needed for fertilization to occur in vitro.
Chan
P J
PJ
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California, USA.
Corselli
J U
JU
Jacobson
J D
JD
Patton
W C
WC
King
A
A
D000177:Acrosome / Q000473:pathology*; D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D004396:Coloring Agents; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017211:Treatment Failure
D004396:Coloring Agents