title: The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on the dynamics of the embryonic development in intracytoplasmatic sperm injection.
abstract: The genetic integrity of sperm DNA can contribute to the infertility problems experienced by couples. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is the most common DNA abnormality in male gametes, and yet its effect on embryo kinetics has not been widely studied. Embryo morphokinetic parameters during the first days of embryo culture after intracytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI) are weakly predictive of both embryo development and pregnancy outcome. This study investigated the effect of SDF on embryo morphokinetic parameters following ICSI. The DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in spermatozoa from all males in the study (n = 165) was determined before ICSI and the morphokinetic parameters of the embryos (n = 165) were monitored via time-lapse recording. We found that a low DFI index in spermatozoa corresponded with embryos that reached the blastocyst stage at a faster rate after ICSI. Overall, lower SDF levels were also found in the group of patients that achieved pregnancy. Thus, higher SDF levels can slow down embryo morphokinetic parameters, and may be predictive of pregnancy outcomes after ICSI.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Techniques Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wdowiak
authors.affiliation: Non-Public Health Care Unit 'Ovum Reproduction and Andrology', Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Szymon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakalczuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Obstetric-Gynaecological Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University, Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: grzegorz.bakalczuk@resetnet.pl.
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bakalczuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000473:pathology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004477:Ectogenesis; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D055101:Semen Analysis; D056826:Single Embryo Transfer; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Embryo; ICSI; Morphokinetic parameters; Sperm DNA fragmentation