Spermatogenic patterns and early embryo development after intracytoplasmic sperm injection in severe oligoasthenozoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the influence of different baseline spermatogenic patterns [meiotic pattern (normal or abnormal), sperm concentration (> 1 x 10(6)/mL or < or = 1 x 10(6)/mL), and the combined meiosis-sperm concentration pattern] on early embryo development in severe oligoasthenozoospermia.


METHODS
Embryo outcomes (fertilization rate, cleavage rate, and 4-cell stage embryo division rate on day 2) after IVF-ICSI in 75 oligoasthenozoospermia and 79 normozoospermic males.


RESULTS
The embryo division rate was significantly lower in oligoasthenozoospermia compared to normozoospermia (50.43% vs. 58.72%, p < 0.01) and in the oligoasthenozoospermia group for meiotic anomalies (43.40%), sperm concentration < or = 1 x 10(6)/mL (44.35%), and the combined pattern < or = 1 x 10(6)/mL with meiotic anomalies (37.17%). Logistic regression analysis showed a synergic effect (OR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.28-3.12) when the two spermatogenic patterns predictive of slow embryo development [meiotic anomalies (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.03-2.15) and sperm concentration < or = 1 x 10(6)/mL (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.09-2.13)] were present.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that the early embryonic developmental capacity is inversely related to the severity of spermatogenic impairment (meiotic anomalies and/or sperm concentration < or = 1 x 10(6)/mL).
Reproductive Medicine Service, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Institut Universitari Dexeus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Bonanova 67, E-08017 Barcelona, Spain.
José M
JM
Vendrell
Begoña
B
Arán
Anna
A
Veiga
Ferrán
F
García
Buenaventura
B
Coroleu
Susana
S
Egozcue
Josep
J
Egozcue
Pere N
PN
Barri
D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013091:Spermatogenesis