Sperm DNA fragmentation index does not correlate with blastocyst euploidy rate in egg donor cycles

Abstract

Sperm DNA fragmentation is a known etiology for male infertility. We evaluated the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) on blastocyst euploidy in IVF cycles with egg donors. This observational retrospective study, which was conducted in a university affiliated fertility clinic, included IVF-ICSI-pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGS) egg donor cycles in which DFI was tested prior to IVF, between January 1st, 2014 and July 31st, 2016. Twenty-seven cycles with DFI > 15% were included in the study group and compared with 18 cycles of DFI < 15% within control group. Research group participants had significantly lower sperm count and motility (55.4*10⁶/ml and 37.4%, respectively) compared with controls (92.5*10⁶/ml and 55.7%, respectively, p < .05). The groups were similar in terms of donors’ demography (age, BMI), ovarian reserve (AMH, AFC) and response to hormonal stimulation (E2 level on triggering day and number of retrieved eggs). Embryo development (from 2PN through day 3 embryos to blastocysts) was similar as well. The number of biopsied blastocysts from study and control groups was 171 and 87, respectively. PGS with array comprehensive genomic hybridization revealed comparable euploidy rates of 69.3% and 67.3%, respectively (p > .05). DFI did not have an impact on the blastocyst euploidy rate in IVF cycles with egg donors.

Chinese abstract

精子DNA碎片是已知的男性不育的病因。我们评估精子DNA碎片指数（DFI）对卵子捐献者IVF周期中囊胚整倍体的影响。这项在大学附属生殖诊所进行的回顾性研究, 包括了2014年1月1日至2016年7月31日期间进行的IVF-ICSI-PGS（移植前基因筛查）供卵周期, 均在IVF之前进行了DFI测试。DFI> 15%的27个周期被纳入研究组, 并且与对照组中18个DFI <15%的周期相比较, 研究组参与者的精子计数和运动能力显著降低（研究组分别为：55.4 * 106/ml和37.4% vs. 对照组分别为92.5 * 106/ml和55.7%, p <.05）。在捐赠者人口统计学（年龄, BMI）, 卵巢储备（AMH, AFC）和对激素刺激的反应方面（诱发排卵日的E2水平和取卵数）, 这两组相似。胚胎发育（从2PN到第3天的胚胎到囊胚）也是相似的。研究组和对照组的活检囊胚数分别为171个和87个。具有阵列综合基因组杂交的PGS显示可比拟的整倍体率分别为69.3%和67.3%（p>.05）。 DFI对捐卵IVF周期中的囊胚整倍体率没有影响。

Keywords:

• Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI)
• blastocyst
• euploidy rate
• egg donation
• preimplantation genetic screening
• array comprehensive genomic hybridization

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.