title: Are sperm DNA fragmentation, hyperactivation, and hyaluronan-binding ability predictive for fertilization and embryo development in in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the diagnostic value of the following sperm function tests in predicting the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA), DNA fragmentation (Halosperm), and hyperactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  133 couples undergoing infertility treatment with IVF/ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of sperm DNA fragmentation, hyaluronan-binding ability, and hyperactivation on washed semen samples used for the insemination of oocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Correlation between the results of sperm function tests and the fertilization rate (FR) or embryo quality (EQ) after IVF and ICSI. Comparison of the sperm DNA fragmentation, hyperactivation, and hyaluronan binding ability between cycles with less than 50% (group 1) and more than 50% (group 2) of oocytes fertilized after IVF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both FR and EQ in IVF cycles negatively correlated with sperm DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between FR and hyaluronan-binding ability or induced hyperactivity. The semen samples from the IVF cycles with low FR (group 1) were characterized by statistically significantly higher sperm DNA fragmentation and lower hyaluronan-binding ability in comparison with semen samples from the group with high levels of fertilization (group 2). In ICSI cycles, no relationship was found between sperm function tests and FR or EQ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Halosperm test, the HBA test, and induced hyperactivity are useful in predicting the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes in IVF and are helpful in distinguishing semen samples suitable for IVF or ICSI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecologic Endocrinology, University Medical Centre, Maribor, Slovenia. breznik.barbara@siol.net
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pregl Breznik
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kovačič
authors.forename: Veljko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vlaisavljević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012372:ROC Curve; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid