Use of high-magnification microscopy for the assessment of sperm recovered after two different sperm processing methods.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the quality of sperm samples obtained after density-gradient centrifugation and swim-up by performing a nuclear structural analysis with high magnification microscopy at ×8,000.


METHODS
Prospective and randomized split-sample study.


METHODS
Reproductive Medicine Center.


METHODS
Sperm samples from 53 male-partners of couples undergoing infertility treatment.


METHODS
Samples were analyzed by high magnification microscopy before and after preparation and classified according the level of nuclear vacuolization.


METHODS
Recovery rate, motility rate and percentage of sperm scoring each of 4 grades of vacuolization in fresh and processed sample.


RESULTS
Both sperm processing methods, swim-up and density gradient centrifugation, allow the selection of sperm with lower nuclear vacuolization and presumably lower DNA fragmentation than the whole ejaculate.


CONCLUSIONS
Swim-up produces samples with less vacuolization, but the recovery rate is also lower. The choice of processing technique would then depend on whether intrauterine insemination, IVF or ICSI/IMSI is to be performed. A prospective randomized study scoring fertility rates would be necessary to directly access the influence of these methods on the fertility outcome.
Monqaut
Ana Laura
AL
Clínica Corachan, Centro de Infertilidad y Reproducción Humana (CIRH), Barcelona, Spain.
Zavaleta
Christabell
C
López
Gemma
G
Lafuente
Rafael
R
Brassesco
Mario
M
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology