Human sperm microinjection into hamster oocytes: a new tool for training and evaluation of the technical proficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
OBJECTIVE
To design a system for teaching intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and to provide a standardized method to assess technical competency.


METHODS
University andrology laboratory.


METHODS
Prospective study of method for training ICSI and prediction of ICSI outcome.


METHODS
Male infertility candidates for ICSI and fertile donors.


METHODS
Sperm from 14 fertile donors and 21 oligospermic patients were microinjected into hamster ova. Sperm head decondensation rates (SHD) and oocyte damage rates were measured. Hamster ICSI (HICSI) was used to train technicians, to assess competency, for quality control, and to predict ICSI fertilization. Sperm fertilization potential measured by HICSI was compared with the outcome of ICSI.


METHODS
Sperm head decondensation or fertilization.


RESULTS
Sperm head decondensation was observed in 425 of 773 hamster oocytes with a mean (+/- SD) rate of 60.9 +/- 15.5. Consistency was shown by repetitive testing of the same donor, comparing fresh and frozen semen, and testing of the multiple frozen aliquots of the same ejaculate. Technicians have been trained with this protocol. Excellent initial ICSI success rates for new technicians were demonstrated. Oligospermic semen samples (21 men, 251 hamster ova) tested in the HICSI test exhibited SHD rates from 12% to 100%. The poor outcome of ICSI in clinical cases was predicted by HICSI.


CONCLUSIONS
The HICSI provides a method for determining the competency for the ICSI technician and interlaboratory comparison, for the prediction of success of sperm for ICSI.
Gvakharia
M O
MO
The Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Lipshultz
L I
LI
Lamb
D J
DJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*