Deposition of the spermatozoon in the human oocyte at ICSI: impact on oocyte survival, fertilization and blastocyst formation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the deposition of the spermatozoon in the human oocyte at ICSI has any effect on oocyte survival, fertilization, blastocyst development and quality.


METHODS
In a prospective study, including 78 ICSI cycles, sibling oocytes were injected with "no intention" (group A, standard ICSI, n = 393) or "intention" to deposit the spermatozoon under the cortex (group B, n = 354). Outcome parameters were oocyte survival and fertilization, as well as blastocyst formation and quality.


RESULTS
Depositing the sperm under the cortex of the oocyte was not always successful for its final position, therefore, group B was divided into three subgroups: B1 successful deposition (119 oocytes, 33.6 % of oocytes in group B); B2 initially successful but spermatozoon spontaneously relocated after 2 min (136 oocytes, 38.4 %); and B3 unsuccessful deposition (99 oocytes, 28.0 %). Group A and B were compared on an intention-to-treat basis. Additionally, A, B1, B2 and B3 were also compared. The oocyte survival and fertilization, blastocyst and top-quality blastocyst developmental rates were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
The procedure of depositing the spermatozoon intentionally under the oocyte cortex demanded high technical skills. Successful positioning was only obtained in 34 % of the attempts. We obtained no evidence of improved oocyte survival and fertilization, blastocyst formation and quality when the spermatozoon was permanently positioned under the oocyte cortex. Taken together, depositing the spermatozoon under the oocyte cortex is not recommended for routine ICSI application.
Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090, Brussels, Belgium, Anick.DeVos@uzbrussel.be.
A
A
De Vos
M
M
Abraham
N
N
Franceus
P
P
Haentjens
H
H
Tournaye
G
G
Verheyen
H
H
Van de Velde
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions