Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Normal Sperm Morphology (normal + sperm_morphology)
Selected AbstractsAneuploidy in spermatozoa of infertile men with teratozoospermiaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 4 2001Kati HÄrkönen Recent studies have shown that aneuploidy in spermatozoa of infertile men with poor semen quality is increased. The purpose of this study was to determine whether poor sperm morphology is associated with the incidence of spermatozoa with numerical chromosome abnormalities. Semen samples from 20 infertile teratozoospermic men were studied using multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Men were divided into four groups according to the proportion of normal sperm morphology: infertile men with <10% (group A, n=7), 10,19% (group B, n=6), and 20,29% (group C, n=7) of morphologically normal spermatozoa, and controls (group D, n=5) with ,30% normal forms. Two hybridizations were performed. All the samples were analysed using probes for chromosomes 1 and 7 and, in addition, in group A and in controls with normal semen parameters probes for chromosomes X, Y and 18 were also used. Ten thousand spermatozoa were scored per hybridization. Severely teratozoospermic men (<10% normal forms) had significantly higher frequency of disomy 7, 18, YY, XY and diploidy in their spermatozoa when compared with controls. The results suggest that poor sperm morphology is associated with numerical chromosome abnormalities of spermatozoa. Severely teratozoospermic men may be at an increased risk of producing aneuploid offspring. [source] Comparison between computerized slow-stage and static liquid nitrogen vapour freezing methods with respect to the deleterious effect on chromatin and morphology of spermatozoa from fertile and subfertile menINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 2 2001M. E. Hammadeh The purpose of this study was to determine the negative effects (cryodamage) on human spermatozoa after freeze-thawing and to determine whether freeze-thawing of spermatozoa with a programmed slow freezer is better than freezing with liquid nitrogen vapour (rapid freezing) with regard to alterations in sperm chromatin and morphology in semen from fertile (donor) and subfertile, IVF/ICSI, patients. Ninety-five semen samples were obtained either from patients attending our IVF unit for treatment (n=34) or from donors (n=25) with proven fertility and normal sperm quality according to WHO guidelines. Each semen sample was divided into two parts after liquefaction and addition of the cryoprotectant. The first part was frozen using a programmed biological freezer and the second part was frozen by means of liquid nitrogen vapour. Smears were made before the freezing and after the thawing procedure to assess morphology (strict criteria) and chromatin condensation (Acridine Orange test). The mean percentage of chromatin condensed spermatozoa in the samples from donors (control group) was 92.4 ± 8.4% before freezing and this decreased significantly (p < 0.0001) to 88.7 ± 11.2% after freeze-thawing with the computerized slow-stage freezer and to 87.2 ± 12.3% after using static liquid nitrogen vapour (p < 0.001). The corresponding values for semen obtained from patients was 78.9 ± 10.3% before freezing which decreased to 70.7 ± 10.8 and 68.5 ± 14.8%, respectively (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the mean percentage of normal sperm morphology in the control group decreased from 26.3 ± 7.5% before freezing to 22.1 ± 6.4% (p < 0.0001) after thawing with the computerized slow-stage freezer and to 22.2 ± 6.6% (p < 0.0001) after the use of static liquid nitrogen vapour. In the patient group, the mean percentage of normal morphology decreased from 11.7 ± 6.1% after freezing with the biological freezer to 9.3 ± 5.6% and to 8.0 ± 4.9% after freezing with static liquid nitrogen vapour. This study demonstrates that chromatin packaging and morphology of human spermatozoa decrease significantly after the freeze-thawing procedure, not only after the use of static liquid nitrogen vapour but also after the use of a computerized slow-stage freezer. However, the chromatin of semen samples with normal semen parameters (donor sperm) withstand the freeze-thaw injury better than those with low quality semen samples. Therefore, the computerized slow stage freezer could be recommended for freezing of human spermatozoa, especially for subnormal semen samples, for example, ICSI and ICSI/TESE candidates and from patients with testicular tumours or Hodgkin's disease, in order to avoid further damage to the sperm chromatin structure. [source] TUNEL assay and SCSA determine different aspects of sperm DNA damageANDROLOGIA, Issue 5 2010R. Henkel Summary For the determination of sperm DNA damage, different assays are used. However, no further distinction is made and the literature generally speaks about DNA damage. Thus, this study aimed at comparing the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and the TUNEL assay. In 79 patients, sperm DNA damage was determined flow cytometrically using the SCSA and the TUNEL assay. Moreover, normal sperm morphology was evaluated according to strict criteria. A statistical comparison of the two methods was performed using standard correlations, Bland and Altman plots, Passing,Bablok regressions and concordance correlation. Results show a significant difference between P- and G-pattern morphology only for the mean channel fluorescence of the SCSA. Spearman's rank correlations between the different parameters of both assays, SCSA and TUNEL, revealed significant associations between the parameters of the assays. However, when applying Bland and Altman plots, Passing,Bablok regression and concordance correlation results showed that these methods are not comparable. These different techniques determine different aspects of sperm DNA damage, i.e. ,real' DNA damage for the TUNEL assay and ,potential' DNA damage in terms of susceptibility to DNA denaturation for the SCSA. Thus, one should clearly distinguish between the different assays, not only practically and methodologically but also linguistically. [source] Comparison of semen profile and frequency of chromosome aneuploidies in sperm nuclei of patients with varicocele before and after varicocelectomyANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2009H. Acar Summary Semen profile and meiotic segregation products are important for assessing aneuploidy risk and risk of resulting infertility. To determine the effect of varicocelectomy on semen profile and aneuploidy frequency, we investigated semen profile and aneuploidy frequency of selected chromosomes in patients with varicocele before and after varicocelectomy. Chromosomal aneuploidy for selected chromosomes was evaluated using chromosome-specific DNA fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) probes. There was a significant difference in the level of normal sperm morphology before and after varicocelectomy (P > 0.007). There were no significant differences in aneuploidy frequency of chromosomes 1, 16, 17 and 18 in sperm nuclei obtained from patients before varicocelectomy compared with 6,7 months after varicocelectomy (P > 0.05), although FISH analysis with chromosomes 17 and 18 combination showed a higher aneuploidy frequency before varicocelectomy than after varicocelectomy (7.81 ± 9.67 versus 4.03 ± 1.46 respectively). In conclusion, varicocele seems to affect the semen profile but minimally affects aneuploidy frequency. Varicocelectomy demonstrates a repairing effect on the semen profile and contributes to a slight decrease in aneuploidy frequency in some but not all chromosomes. [source] Predictive value of semen parameters in in vitro fertilisation pregnancy outcomeANDROLOGIA, Issue 2 2009X. Chen Summary This study investigated retrospectively the predictive value of routine semen analysis in pregnancy by in vitro fertilisation (IVF). The selected (n = 796) cycles were divided into two groups: pregnancy group (group 1; n = 264) and nonpregnancy group (group 2; n = 532), in which the female partners were normal or just had tube problems. No significant differences were found in the percentage of normal sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, rapid progressive motility (rapid) and concentration between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, teratozoospermic index (TZI) and sperm deformity index (SDI) showed statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The number of retrieved eggs (P = 0.001), fertilisation rate (P = 0.000) and number of embryos transferred (P = 0.020) in group 1 were significantly higher than those in group 2, but no significant differences were noted in cleavage rates, and good quality embryo rates between the two groups (P > 0.05). Using receiver operating characteristics curve, we found that semen parameters (morphology, motility and concentration), fertilisation rate, TZI and SDI were not good indicators for pregnancy by IVF. Thus, the semen parameters evaluated according to criteria of the World Health Organization are no good predictors for accurately identifying the IVF outcome. However, TZI and SDI may be more informative than other semen parameters. [source] Oligozoospermia: recent prognosis and the outcome of 73 pregnancies in oligozoospermic couplesANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2006J. A. Van Zyl Summary The minimum value for each of the five main semen parameters, below which conception rarely occurred or did not occur at all, was calculated in a group of 1884 couples complaining of primary and secondary infertility: 304 conceptions including first as well as consecutive conceptions, occurred. The parameters evaluated were (minimum value calculated in this study between brackets) volume (1.0 ml), sperm count ml,1 (2.0 million), total sperm count (4.0 million), motility (10%), forward progression (2.0 MacLeod units: scale 1,4) and normal sperm morphology (3%). The pregnancy rate in the group of 308 oligozoospermic men and the minimum value of semen parameters were the cornerstones in determining the prognosis for oligozoospermic patients. A sperm count of >2.0 million ml,1 was considered relatively adequate for eventual conception judged by the 68 of 308 (22.1%) pregnancies that occurred among oligozoospermic men in this study, provided that the other five semen parameters showed values above the minimum value. In cases where the average sperm count was <2 million ml,1, the chances for conception became rare, viz five of 308 (1.6%). The total number of pregnancies in the group classified as oligozoospermic was 73 (23.7%). With these pregnancies there was no increase in the rate of foetal wastage and congenital abnormalities. Abortion occurred in 15.09% and ectopic pregnancy in 0.9% among first and consecutive pregnancies. One infant among the 56% boys and 44% girls was born with congenital abnormalities. Most of these infants had a normal birth mass of >2500 g. [source] Stepwise regression analysis to study male and female factors impacting on pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination programmeANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2001M. Montanaro Gauci Summary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of male and female factors on the pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination (IUI) programme. Data on 522 cycles were retrospectively studied. All patients 39 years or younger were included in the study where data were available on male and female diagnosis, as well as on ovulation induction methodology. Regression analysis was possible on 495 cycles to study different factors affecting the pregnancy rate per treatment cycle. Logistic regression identified variables which were related to outcome and were subsequently incorporated into a statistical model. The number of follicles was found to have a linear association with the risk ratio (chance) of pregnancy. The age of the woman was also found to have a linear (negative) association with pregnancy. The percentage motility and percentage normal morphology (by strict criteria) of spermatozoa in the fresh ejaculate were the male factors that significantly and independently predicted the outcome. Percentage motility ,,50 was associated with a risk ratio of pregnancy of 2.95 compared to percentage motility < 50. Percentage normal sperm morphology > 14% was associated with a risk ratio of pregnancy of 1.8 compared to percentage normal morphology ,,14%. Female patients with idiopathic infertility were divided into three groups according to normal sperm morphology. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 2.63% (1/38) for the P (poor) pattern group (0,4% normal forms), 11.4% (17/149) for the G (good) pattern group (5,14%), and 24% (18/75) for the N (normal) pattern group (> 14% normal forms). A female diagnosis of endometriosis or tubal factor impacted negatively on the probability of pregnancy (risk ratio of 0.17), compared with other female diagnoses. Male and female factors contribute to pregnancy outcome, but the clinician can influence prognosis by increasing the number of follicles, especially in severe male factor cases. [source] | ||||||||||