Clinical outcome of magnetic activated cell sorting of non-apoptotic spermatozoa before density gradient centrifugation for assisted reproduction.
OBJECTIVE
Magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) eliminates apoptotic spermatozoa based on the presence of externalized phosphatidylserine residues. We evaluated the outcome of male fertility treatment when intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) into human oocytes was performed with non-apoptotic MACS-selected spermatozoa.


METHODS
196 couples were treated by ICSI following spermatozoa preparation by MACS (study group; 122 couples) or density gradient centrifugation (DGC) (control group; 74 couples). Fertilization, cleavage, pregnancy, and implantation rates were analyzed.


RESULTS
The percentage of sperm with normal morphology after MACS selection was improved. Cleavage and pregnancy rates were higher, respectively, in the study group than in control. A slightly higher implantation rate was also observed in the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
MACS selection of human spermatozoa increased cleavage and pregnancy rates in oligoasthenozoospermic ART cases. This novel method for selecting non-apoptotic spermatozoa for ICSI is safe and reliable, and may improve the assisted reproduction outcome.
Dirican
Enver Kerem
EK
Embryology, MAYA Center for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Ankara, Turkey. kerem@dirican.tr.tc
Ozgün
Osman Denizhan
OD
Akarsu
Süleyman
S
Akin
Kadir Okhan
KO
Ercan
Ozge
O
Uğurlu
Mukaddes
M
Camsari
Cağri
C
Kanyilmaz
Oya
O
Kaya
Adnan
A
Unsal
Ali
A
D017209:Apoptosis; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010718:Phosphatidylserines