Microfluidic sperm selection yields higher sperm quality compared to conventional method in ICSI program: A pilot study

ABSTRACT

An appropriate preparation technique, should be capable of isolating highquality spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The aim was to assess sperm quality parameters, DNA integrity, embryo development, and clinical outcomes using a practical and accessible Microfluidic Sperm Sorting (MSS) technique. A total of 95 ICSI cases performed using sperm samples were prepared with our MSS (group 1) or by Direct Swim Up (DSU; control) method (group 2). Both sperm quality parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) were compared between the groups. DNA fragmentation was assessed using Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) test and fine morphology was assessed using Motile Sperm Organelle Morphology Examination (MSOME). Embryo development and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. In the MSS group, progressive motility and the fraction of Class I sperm morphology sperm were significantly higher compared to DSU group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the rates of DNA fragmentation and immotile spermatozoa were significantly lower in MSS when compared to DSU group (P < 0.001). Also, higher rates of high-quality embryo formation (P < 0.001), implantation (P = 0.04) and pregnancy (P = 0.05) were achieved in the MSS compared to DSU groups. The MSS technique proved to be a noninvasive, disposable, easy to use, and inexpensive method for separation of high-quality spermatozoa. Both laboratory parameters and clinical outcomes were improved with application of MSS for neat sperm collection in ICSI.

Abbreviations

ICSI: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection; MSS: Microfluidic Sperm Sorting; Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF); SCD: Sperm Chromatin Dispersion; MSOME: Motile Sperm Organelle Morphology Examination; DGC: Density Gradient Centrifugation; DSU: Direct Swim Up; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; ART: Assisted Reproducetive Technology

KEYWORDS:

• Microfluidic sperm sorting (MSS)
• direct swim up
• ICSI
• MSOME
• embryo development

Ethics approval

All couples filled out the informed consent forms for this prospective study. The study was approved by the research ethics committee of our institute (IR.SSU.RSI.REC.1398.012).

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by ‎Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. The authors would like to thank the ‎staff of Yazd Reproductive Science Institute.

Author contributions

Provided the concept, designed the technique of the study: OE, MO; collected and analyzed the data: MO; wrote the manuscript: UO; drafted and revised the manuscript: OE, MC.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.