title: Sperm midpiece apoptotic markers: impact on fertilizing potential in in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between apoptotic markers present in human spermatozoa, namely phosphatidylserine translocation (PST) from the inner to the outer layer of the cytomembrane and the active form of caspase-3 (c3) versus the fertilizing potential of male gametes in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) models. A total of 116 male patients treated with their partners for infertility underwent basic semen analysis and an assessment of the presence of PST and the active c3 in sperm using flow cytometry. Forty patients underwent IVF, group A, while 76 patients underwent ICSI, group B. The fertilizing potential of the gametes was measured as the percentage of oocytes with pronuclei present after either procedure. PST and active c3 were identified in vital gametes, mainly in the midpiece area. Concentration, motility, morphology, and viability of spermatozoa strongly negatively correlated with both markers. In group A, a negative correlation between both markers and the success rate of conventional IVF was observed (r = -0.4, p = 0.04 for PST; r = -0.4, p = 0.02 for active c3, respectively). In group B, the success rate of ICSI did not correlate with either marker (r = -0.2, p = 0.85 for PST and r = 0.1, p = 0.51 for active c3). The two apoptotic markers localized in the sperm midpiece area may affect their function not only by decreasing basic andrologic parameters but also by reducing the probability of conception. Therefore, analysis of PST and active c3 in the sperm of patients undergoing infertility treatment should be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535, Poznan, Poland. joanna.talarczyk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Talarczyk-Desole
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5d, 60-806, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotwicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Rokietnicka 5d, 60-806, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jendraszak
authors.affiliation: Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pawelczyk
authors.affiliation: 1st Department and Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Wrocław Medical University, T. Chałubińskiego 3, 50-368, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murawski
authors.affiliation: Division of Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Polna 33, 60-535, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jędrzejczak
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D032961:Sperm Midpiece / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility
chemical_list: D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Apoptotic markers; Caspase-3; ICSI; IVF; Male infertility; Phosphatidylserine translocation; Spermatozoa