Removal of DNA-fragmented spermatozoa using flow cytometry and sorting does not improve the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics volume 36, pages2079–2086(2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The DNA fragmentation in sperm is associated with reduced outcome in assisted reproduction. Using YoPro1 as the staining dye and flow cytometry and sorting (FACS), the number of spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation can be lowered to 5%. Can the cumulative outcome of ICSI be improved using FACS?

Methods

A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted in 104 infertile couples with male infertility based on abnormal conventional semen analysis results. Cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate was the primary outcome parameter. In 52 cases, semen was processed for ICSI using swim-up. In another 52 cases, spermatozoa with fragmented DNA were removed with FACS.

Results

The cumulative pregnancy rate at 12 weeks of gestation (51.9% versus 46.2%) and live birth rate (42.3% versus 34.6%) were higher and the miscarriage rate was lower (27.8% versus 35.3%) after FACS-sorting as compared with swim-up. An interim analysis scheduled before initiation of the study after 100 cases demonstrated that the aim of a 20% gain in pregnancy rate could not be achieved. For that reason, the prospective study was stopped prematurely.

Conclusions

A trend towards consistently better results was achieved by removing spermatozoa with fragmented DNA. The fragmentation of the DNA in sperm is the end stage of apoptosis. Sorting of spermatozoa may be improved by selecting parameters of processes active more upstream of apoptosis, such as chromatin decondensation.

Trial registration

NCT02166567. June 14, 2014.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the work of the monitoring group of the Clinical Trial Unit of the Basler University Hospital (www.dkf.unibas.ch) and to Ms. Hanna Flükiger for coordinating all activities related to this study.

Funding

This study was funded by the Repronatal Foundation, Basel, Switzerland.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology (RME), University Hospital, University of Basel, Vogesenstrasse 134, CH-4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Christian De Geyter, Ursula Gobrecht-Keller, Astrid Ahler & Manuel Fischer

  2. Reproductive Medicine and Gyn. Endocrinology (RME), Vogesenstrasse 134, CH-4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Christian De Geyter

Authors
  1. Christian De Geyter
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  2. Ursula Gobrecht-Keller
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  3. Astrid Ahler
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  4. Manuel Fischer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian De Geyter.

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The study was presented to and approved by the local ethics committee (EKBB178/12) and monitored by the clinical trial unit (CTU) of the University Hospital of Basel.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Cite this article

De Geyter, C., Gobrecht-Keller, U., Ahler, A. et al. Removal of DNA-fragmented spermatozoa using flow cytometry and sorting does not improve the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection. J Assist Reprod Genet 36, 2079–2086 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01571-1

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Keywords

  • DNA fragmentation
  • Apoptosis
  • Flow cytometry
  • ICSI
  • Chromatin remodeling