Pronuclear and morphological features as a cumulative score to select embryos in ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) cycles according to sperm origin.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze best parameter to select embryos according to sperm origin in ICSI cycles.


METHODS
One hundred seventy-two ICSI cycles were divided among three different groups: A (ejaculated spermatozoa from nonmale factor infertility), B (ejaculated spermatozoa from oligospermia), and C (spermatozoa from azoospermia). Embryos were divided on Day 1 into two patterns: S0 (pronuclei (PN) aligned and close with normal arrangement of nucleoli) and S1 (when these characteristics were absent) and also on transfer day according to morphological features.


RESULTS
Relationships of PN patterns related to sperm origin were noted. More S0 embryos were detected with better sperm quality. Higher number of good quality embryos was obtained when male factor was absent. Ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa provide better quality embryos than do testicular spermatozoa.


CONCLUSIONS
PN classification associated with transfer day morphology is valuable additional noninvasive criterion for elective embryo transfer, mainly in the cases with severe male factor.
Rossi-Ferragut
Lia Mara
LM
Scientific Department of Fertility, Assisted Fertilization Center, São Paulo, Brazil. fertility@fertility.com.br
Iaconelli
Assumpto
A
Aoki
Tsutomu
T
Rocha
Claudia Chagas
CC
dos Santos
Daniela Regina
DR
Pasqualotto
Fábio Firmbach
FF
Borges
Edson
E
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum; D004542:Ejaculation; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004822:Epididymis / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology; D015053:Zygote / Q000648:ultrastructure*