Assessing the Impact of the Novel Sperm Selection Technique 'Annexin-V Coated Polystyrene Bead Technique' on Mouse Assisted Reproductive Techniques Outcomes: Preliminary Findings.

ICSI is one of the most commonly used techniques to treat infertility. The sperm selection for the procedure is done 'randomly' by the embryologist according to the motility and morphology parameters which is known not to reflect the potential of a sperm for fertilization, pregnancy and a healthy childbearing. Since the apoptosis rate is higher in sperm cells of infertile patients, it is more likely to choose an apoptotic sperm by the 'random selection method'. We recently introduced a novel sperm selection technique namely 'Annexin-V coated polystrene bead technique'(APB-Tech), for the selection of non-apoptotic sperm cells. The principal of the technique is based on the binding affinity of an apoptotic sperm to 'Annexin-V covered beads' enabling to distinguish a viable and a healthy sperm by light microscopy. The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of this technique on ICSI outcomes in mice. Sibling-oocyte trial was conducted and the outcome measures were compared with the results of traditional sperm selection method. Embryo and blastocyst qualities and blastocyst development rates were significantly increased in APB-Tech group, while the other parameters were not affected. Promising results obtained from the technique reflect its promising potential as a new and powerful tool for sperm selection and thus infertility techniques.

Seminal trace elements and their relationship with sperm parameters.

Male reproductive problems may derive from many reasons including the environmental toxicants which may either intaken by occupational exposure, nutrition or bad air quality. The increased exposure to these substances due to rapid industrial development and technology has raised the questions: Is there a relationship between sperm parameters and these substances, and if so, in what extent? Results of studies on the subject reported conflicting results, many of which were not investigated in the seminal plasma. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between 23 metals and trace elements in human seminal plasma and semen parameters many of which were not investigated before. Levels of 23 metals in human seminal plasma were assessed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We examined the differences between subjects with normal ejaculate (normozoospermia) and pathologic ejaculate (with at least one abnormal semen parameter) according to the WHO criteria. The only significant difference was detected for Se while the other element's difference was not statistically significant. Se was statistically significantly increased in normal semen group suggesting the positive effect of this element on semen parameters.