Effects of leucocytospermia on semen parameters and outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Leucocytes are present throughout the male reproductive tract but the clinical significance of leucocytic infiltration in the human ejaculate is controversial. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines leucocytospermia as the presence of peroxidase-positive leucocytes in concentrations of > or =1 x 10(6)/mL of semen. The goals of this study were to clarify the relationship between leucocytospermia and semen parameters including sperm concentration, progressive and total motility before and after semen preparation, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes, including fertilization, embryo development, embryo morphology, cleavage and pregnancy rates. We compared the semen parameters and ICSI outcome of 34 leucocytospermic and 36 non-leucocytospermic control couples who were undergoing ICSI because of male factor infertility including oligo and/or astheno and/or teratozoospermia. Semen parameters including progressive motility rate (1.5% vs. 3%) and sperm concentrations (12 vs. 29 million/mL) were significantly lower in the leucocytospermic group compared with the control group. Other semen parameters were not affected by the presence of leucocytes. ICSI outcome, including fertilization (82% vs. 87%) and embryo development rates (79% vs. 86%) were significantly lower in the leucocytospermic group compared with the control group although there were no statistical difference for embryo quality, embryo cleavage and pregnancy rates. These results indicate that some semen parameters and the outcome of ICSI were negatively affected by the presence of leucocytospermia.     

Subnormal sperm parameters in conventional semen analysis are associated with discrepancies between fertilization and pregnancy rates in in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer

Three hundred and twenty-eight consecutive treatment cycles in 168 couples were analysed retrospectively in order to examine the influence of conventional semen analysis results on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer with respect to the occurrence of both fertilizations and pregnancies. All treatments were performed under maximally standardized and controlled conditions. Each of the three main determinants of the spermiogram, namely the concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in seminal plasma, was of significant importance for fertilization and subsequent pregnancy. Best correlations were achieved by counting the number of progressively (a+b) motile sperm and the number of normally formed sperm in seminal plasma. The pregnancy rate was reduced significantly in cases in which the sperm concentration was < 10 x 10(6) ml-1 (P < 0.01), or in which there was < 40% progressively motile sperm (P < 0.001), or < 30% normally formed sperm (P < 0.001). If more than one parameter in the spermiogram was abnormal, the fertilization rate depended mainly on the most disturbed sperm parameter. The implantation rate as well as the pregnancy rate was reduced significantly in patients with low progressive sperm motility and normal morphology rates. The difference could only be attributed partially to the lower number of embryos replaced. In conclusion, subnormal sperm quality seems to interfere with developmental stages beyond the process of fertilization.     

Urogenital inflammation: changes of leucocytes and ROS

The presence of excess leucocytes in the semen has been associated with male infertility. According to the WHO, concentrations of more than 106 leucocytes ml-1 are considered as leucocytospermia, indicating genital tract infections. Up to now, no consensus has been achieved on how leucocytes should be quantified in semen. Using the peroxidase staining and monoclonal antibodies to CD15, CD45 and CD68, we found significant differences between the detection methods. Only 47.4% of the semen samples that were assessed as leucocytospermic by CD45 were identified as such by peroxidase staining. The concentration of peroxidase-positive cells was significantly correlated with polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) elastase (P < 0.0001). However, a negative correlation of peroxidase-positive cells with the sperm concentration was only found in oligozoospermic patients (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the slightly positive correlation with normal sperm morphology seems to be applicable only in cases of oligozoospermia. Significant negative correlation of the number of peroxidase-positive cells were found for both maximal inducible acrosome reaction (P = 0.0219) and the inducibility of acrosome reaction (P = 0.0370), indicating a rather deleterious effect of leucocytes on this important sperm function. Concerning the result in the in vitro fertilization programme, none of the examined parameters (PMN elastase, concentration of round cells and peroxidase-positive cells) showed a correlation with either fertilization or pregnancy. This result seems to be reasonable as severely damaged spermatozoa and leucocytes are eliminated from the ejaculate by different sperm separation methods. Interestingly, a significant negative correlation of the TUNEL assay as a measure of sperm DNA fragmentation was found only with pregnancy (P = 0.006) but not with fertilization. As DNA fragmentation can also be caused by ROS that are generated by leucocytes, this causality should not be neglected.     

Does computerized image analysis of sperm movement enhance the predictive value of semen analysis for in-vitro fertilization results?

The influence of semen quality on fertilization rates in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme was studied by analysing both conventional semen parameters and computerized movement characteristics. The study was based on 407 inseminated oocytes which were obtained from 50 patients in 113 laparoscopies. Sperm concentration did not correlate strongly with the fertilization rate. Sperm motility and morphology were the most meaningful parameters in predicting fertilization success. A drop in fertilization rate was found when sperm motility or normal morphology were below 40%. Sperm velocity measured in semen was the only sperm movement parameter which correlated with the fertilization rate, albeit weakly. The latter was reduced when average sperm velocity in semen was less than 50 microns/sec. Conventional semen parameters seem to be more predictive of the fertilizing potential of an ejaculate than movement characteristics obtained by computerized image analysis.     

精液中白细胞含量不同的少弱精子症患者分类治疗观察

目的观察精液中白细胞含量不同的少、弱精子症患者的分类治疗效果。方法60例正常白细胞含量的少、弱精子症患者双盲分成治疗1组与治疗2组;68例白细胞精液症的少、弱精子症患者双盲分成对照1组和对照2组。分别比较4组治疗前后精液白细胞含量、精液常规及临床妊娠率。结果正常白细胞含量的少、弱精子症患者分别采用助育1号和五子衍宗丸治疗,治疗前后两组患者精液密度、活力、临床妊娠率均有提高,助育1号提高更显著。白细胞精液症的少、弱精子症患者分别采用助育2号和五子衍宗丸治疗,治疗前、后对照1组精液白细胞含量显著下降,对照2组治疗前、后精液白细胞含量无显著改变,对照1组治疗后精液常规有显著提高,与治疗前比较均有显著性差异(P<0．01);与对照2组比较,有显著性意义(P<0．01);配偶妊娠率对照1组与对照2组比较,有显著性意义(P<0．01)。结论少、弱精子症患者治疗前检测精液白细胞含量,根据不同精液白细胞含量分类、结合中医辨证治疗可收到显著疗效。     

The cryopreservation of donor semen by a simplified method: use in an IVF and GIFT programme

The cryopreservation of semen used in assisted reproduction procedures was carried out exclusively by a simplified method in which a mixture of semen and cryoprotectant was contained in 1-ml tuberculin syringes and plunged directly into liquid nitrogen. Donor semen samples halved and frozen in syringes and in straws in a controlled-rate freezer showed no significant difference in post-thaw motility (P = 0.217) or survival (P = 0.217) after 30 min. However, after 180 min the survival rate showed a significant reduction in syringes (P = 0.045). A significant difference (P less than 0.00008) in the rate of fertilization of oocytes was seen in IVF cycles using frozen-thawed donor sperm (58/142, 42%) when compared to fresh sperm from husbands (2315/3926, 59%). A significant reduction (P less than 0.00005) in fertilization rate was also observed in the case of supernumerary oocytes in GIFT cycles with the cryopreserved donor sperm (29/132, 22%) compared to the husbands' sperm (239/514, 46%). However, the pregnancy rate following IVF and embryo replacement was the same after fertilization with fresh sperm (75/351, 21%) as opposed to frozen sperm (3/14, 21%). Furthermore, a higher pregnancy rate was observed in GIFT with frozen donor sperm (9/19, 47%) than with fresh sperm from husbands (28/103, 27%), though this was not statistically significant (P = 0.079). These results show this simplified methods of semen cryopreservation to be effective when used in an IVF and GIFT programme, giving pregnancy rates comparable to fresh normospermic semen samples. The method is simple, quick and inexpensive.     

精浆piRNA对精子DNA完整性及辅助生殖技术结局的影响

目的通过检测男性不育症患者精浆中存在的睾丸特异piRNA与精子DNA损伤程度的关系,探讨其对精子DNA完整性及辅助生殖技术(ART)结局的影响。方法分析149例男性不育症患者精液质量及精子DNA完整性;按精子DNA碎片指数(DFI)将不育症患者分为:A组(DFI≤15%)、B组(15%DFI30%)、C组(DFI≥30%),采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(Q-PCR)检测各组患者精浆中piRNA-013423和piRNA-023386的表达量,比较各组患者受精率、卵裂率、优胚率、生化妊娠率及临床妊娠率的差异。结果与A、B组比较,C组的精子密度、前向活动精子、精子活动率、正常形态率均明显下降(P0.05),A、B两组比较,B组精子活动率下降(P0.05)。A、B、C三组中,C组患者piRNA-013423、piRNA-023386表达均低于A、B组(P0.01);C组患者受精率、卵裂率、优胚率、生化妊娠率及临床妊娠率均低于A、B组(P0.01)。结论男性不育症患者存在精子DNA不同程度的损伤,精浆中piRNA的水平与精子DNA完整性有关,DNA完整性差的患者精浆piRNA表达降低,且影响ART临床结局。提示piRNA可能通过某些信号通路调控精子DNA损伤,但具体机制需要下一步深入研究探讨。     

Seminal reactive oxygen species as predictors of fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates after conventional in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection

High seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to poor semen quality and impaired fertilization. We aimed at finding whether there is an association between ROS and fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates after conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In prepared semen of 147 male partners of infertile couples, ROS were assessed with luminol chemiluminescence. Spermiogram was assessed in native semen. ROS were negatively correlated with standard sperm characteristics and testicular volume, and positively with abnormal sperm head morphology. Fertilization rate and embryo morphology on day 2 and on day 4 were assessed in 41 IVF and 106 ICSI cycles. The influence of maternal (female age and number of oocytes) and paternal (sperm motility, morphology and ROS) factors on fertilization and embryo quality were assessed by means of regression analyses. After IVF, fertilization and pregnancy rates were negatively associated with ROS level (p = 0.031 and 0.041, respectively). In case of higher ROS, significantly fewer ICSI-derived embryos (p = 0.036) reached the morula-blastocyst stage on day 4. High seminal ROS levels are associated with impaired sperm fertilizing ability and lower pregnancy rates after IVF. In ICSI, a negative association of ROS with embryo development to the blastocyst stage has been observed.     

Comparison of sperm preparation methods: effect on chromatin and morphology recovery rates and their consequences on the clinical outcome after in vitro fertilization embryo transfer

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of swim-up, PureSperm gradient centrifugation and glass-wool filtration methods for semen preparation and to assess the possible enhancement of the quality of the subpopulation of spermatozoa in terms of sperm concentration, morphology and chromatin condensation. Moreover, to determine the effect of this semen processing technique on the clinical outcome after in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET). A total of 180 semen samples of patients' husbands who were undergoing IVF therapy were prepared by swim-up (G1, n = 60), PureSperm gradient centrifugation (G2, n=60) or glass-wool (G3, n=60) methods. Chromatin condensation was assessed by Chromomycin (CMA3), whereas sperm morphology was evaluated according to strict criteria. In all three semen processing methods, the percentage of chromatin condensed and morphologically normal spermatozoa was higher after semen processing in comparison with native semen samples. The proportion of normal chromatin condensed spermatozoa prepared in glass-wool filtration was significantly higher than that in swim-up (G.I, p=0.02) or PureSperm (G.II, p=0.001). In addition semen processing with PureSperm yields significantly a higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa than swim-up (p < 0.001) or glass-wool method (p < 0.002). However, the fertilization, implantation and pregnancy rates, in turn were similar in all semen preparation methods. In conclusion, PureSperm gradient centrifugation yields a higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa than shown in traditional swim-up or glass-wool filtration. However, the percentage of chromatin condensed spermatozoa was significantly higher after semen processing via glass-wool in comparison with the other two methods. Nevertheless, there were no significant difference in the fertilization, implantation and pregnancy rates of sperm prepared by means of swim-up, PureSperm or glass-wool filtration. Therefore, glass-wool filtration should be recommended as the first choice for semen preparation for Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique as the natural selection is bypassed. Whereas, swim-up and PureSperm should be used for semen processing in IVF programme.     

Early and late paternal contribution to cell division of embryos in a time-lapse imaging incubation system

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of male age, semen quality and days of ejaculatory abstinence on embryo morphokinetics. A total of 1,220 zygotes obtained from 139 couples in a private in vitro fertilisation centre were analysed. The timing of specific events from the point of insemination, such as timings to pronuclei appearance and fading, to two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight cells and to blastulation were recorded. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of paternal factors on embryo morphokinetic events. Paternal age was positively correlated with delayed cell cleavage and blastulation, and negatively associated with implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy and live–birth chances. The ejaculatory abstinence was inversely correlated with the implantation rate. Inverse relationships were observed between semen parameters (sperm count, progressive sperm motility, total motile sperm count and morphology) and the timing of specific events during embryo development. Sperm morphology was also positively associated with implantation rate and pregnancy and live–birth chances. Increased paternal age and ejaculatory abstinence, and poor semen quality correlate with delayed cell cleavage and blastulation and negatively impact intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes.     

两种精子处理方法的卵细胞胞质内单精子显微注射结局的比较

目的:评价密度梯度离心和改良上游法两种处理活动精子的分离方法在卵细胞胞质内单精子显微注射(ICSI)中的效果,从而指导临床应用。方法:选取2004年10月~2005年4月在本中心完成的42例患者42个周期为研究对象,前瞻性比较了两种精子分离方法的受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率、精子畸形率、精子回吸收率等。结果:两种方法分离精子所获得的ICSI胚胎移植(ICSI-ET)中,受精率、卵裂率、优胚率、临床妊娠率均无明显差异,但是改良上游法所获得的精子畸形率明显高于密度梯度离心法(P<0.01);重度少精子症密度梯度离心法回吸收精子优于改良上游法(P<0.01)。结论:在辅助生育技术ICSI-ET中,密度梯度离心法分离活动精子临床妊娠结局与改良上游法无明显差异;除对重度少精子症者外,均可以采用改良上游法。     

Role of granulocyte elastase and interleukin-6 in the diagnosis of male genital tract inflammation

Chronic genital tract inflammations are a frequent cause or at least a concomitant factor of male fertility disturbances. The diagnosis is difficult because of the mostly asymptomatic course of the disease. Therefore, determination of biochemical markers of inflammation in addition to the number of leucocytes in the seminal plasma has been recommended. The aim of the study was to find out whether determination of granulocyte elastase and interleukin-6 provide comparable and reliable results with regard to diagnosis of genital tract inflammation; in addition, the association between genital tract inflammation and semen quality should be evaluated with special focus on potentially disturbed sperm functions like sperm motility and DNA integrity. In a prospective study, the concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and granulocyte elastase were determined in seminal plasma samples from 340 patients to investigate the relationship with other parameters of genital tract inflammation such as the number of peroxidase-positive cells and conventional semen parameters. Microbiological investigations were included. As post-testicular inflammatory influences may cause sperm DNA damage, the correlation between IL-6 and elastase and DNA integrity was evaluated by the sperm chromatin structure assay. IL-6 and elastase were significantly correlated both with each other (P < 0.01) and the number of peroxidase-positive cells (P < 0.01). IL-6 showed a highly significant negative correlation with sperm vitality (P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with sperm motility (P < 0.05). Elastase concentrations were highly significantly associated with the number of peroxidase-positive cells (P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with sperm vitality (P < 0.01). Moreover, there were significantly negative correlations with sperm motility (P < 0.05), progressive motility according to WHO a quality (P < 0.05) as well as sperm morphology (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant negative correlation was observed between elastase concentrations and percentage of spermatozoa with intact DNA, which may suggest the use of anti-inflammatory treatment. It can be concluded that both IL-6 and granulocyte elastase are useful and suitable as markers for silent genital tract inflammation; in contrast to previous contributions there were clear correlations of IL-6 and granulocyte elastase with sperm parameters, the relationship of elastase with semen quality being more marked. Moreover, the results of the study confirm the need for a change of the threshold value of peroxidase-positive cells according to WHO definition to lower levels for definition of silent genital tract inflammation.     

Relation between sperm count and semen volume, and pregnancies obtained during a twenty-year follow-up period

The clinical fertility of 1077 men investigated with sperm analysis including sperm count and semen volume during the years 1950-52 was studied 20 years later using a questionnaire, replied by 785 (72.9%). There was a significant correlation ( P < 0.01) between sperm count and number of living children, but no relation to abortions and pathological pregnancies. Furthermore, sperm count was correlated ( P < 0.01) to time interval from wish of pregnancy to pregnancy obtained. Of 53 men with sperm count ≤ 5 mill/ml 22.6% obtained living children compared with 52.2–63.1% living children in 730 men with sperm count > 5 mill/ml. Sperm count is concluded to be proper for fertility classification, and sperm count 5 mill/ml is found to be the clinically significant borderline of male infertility. There was no relation between semen volume and pregnancies obtained, however, there was a statistical relation ( P < 0.01) to time interval to pregnancy obtained. Semen volume is concluded not to be suited for fertility classification.     

Prognostic value of male diagnostic profiles in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

Possible correlations between male hormone and semen parameters with pregnancy and oocyte fertilization rates following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were investigated. The study is based on 290 couples who underwent ICSI therapy for the first time. The parameters evaluated were male age, serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone, sperm concentration, sperm motility, normal sperm morphology, index of teratozoospermia (TZI) and sperm vitality. A marginal, barely significant association was found between the fertilization rate and serum FSH levels in the male partner ( p =  0.046). There was no relevant association between male parameters and pregnancy rates. The study confirms that male hormonal and semen parameters are of low prognostic value for the outcome of ICSI.     

Fertilization rates of small-head sperm in conventional IVF and ICSI

Five men produced 23 ejaculates in 23 assisted reproductive technology cycles for semen analysis. In 11 of the 14 ICSI cycles and in 5 of the 9 IVF cycles, small-head sperm were found in more than 70% of the cells, having a length of < 3.5 micro m and a width of < 2 micro m. In 6 of the 14 ICSI cycles, the embryologist who performed the ICSI was not alerted to e presence of small-head sperm. Subsequent fertilization rate was significantly lower than a) the fertilization rate of the remaining 5 ICSI cycles that acted as a control, in which the embryologist was alerted to the presence of small-head sperm, and b) was lower than the 3 ICSI cycles with normal sperm head (p < .05). The 8 cell embryo and blastocyst rates in the former group were also decreased, although not significantly, compared to the latter groups. Likewise, in the 5 IVF cycles with small-head sperm, the fertilization rate was significantly lower than in the 4 IVF with normal sperm head (p < .05). Embryologists should be alerted when a high percentage of small-head sperm are detected during routine semen analysis because they may be associated with reduced fertilization and embryo outcome.     

Migration sedimentation technique as a predictive test for the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa in an in-vitro fertilization programme

The migration-sedimentation technique (MST) has been proposed as a means of separating high quality motile spermatozoa. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate whether sperm performance following separation by MST predicts their fertilizing capacity in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. Ninety semen specimens were analysed for use in an IVF-embryo transfer (ET) programme. Each specimens was divided into two parts: one was processed in the IVF programme and was used after sperm swim-up separation for insemination of human ova. The other aliquot (0.2 ml) was separated by MST, and the sperm then characterized by their concentration, motility, degree of motility and morphology. Sperm characteristics after separation by MST were then correlated with the results of the IVF-fertilization rates. In 79 of 90 IVF-ET cycles, at least one oocyte was fertilized. All post-MST sperm characteristics were significantly higher in cycles with fertilizations compared to IVF cycles without fertilization. A larger percentage of the total motile spermatozoa were recovered after MST in semen specimens with fertilization, compared to semen specimens without fertilization (39.9 +/- 3.6 and 20.6 +/- 6.6%, respectively; P < 0.05). This value was correlated with the percentage of fertilized oocytes (r = 0.24; P < 0.02). More IVF cycles with fertilizations were recorded in cases in which the recovery of motile sperm was > 25% (P < 0.005), or when more than 1.5 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa were recovered after MST (P < 0.0001). As sperm characteristics after MST correlated significantly with their fertilizing capacity, the MST test could be used in evaluation of the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa.     

男性年龄对常规体外受精-胚胎移植结局的影响

目的:研究男性年龄对体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)治疗结局的影响。方法:按男方年龄将2008至2010年接受常规IVF-ET的夫妇170对分为3组,年龄<35岁组60例、35～39岁组77例,≥40岁组33例,观察男方年龄对IVF的受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率、着床率、妊娠率及流产率的影响。结果:3组精液量[(3.10±1.22)ml vs(2.84±1.05)ml vs(2.80±0.79)ml]、精子浓度[(54.23±26.07)×106/ml vs(60.27±24.80)×106/ml vs(60.21±27.42)×106/ml]、活动率[(53.93±13.25)%vs(56.10±16.58)%vs(51.82±15.45)%]相比均无显著性差异(P>0.05),≥40岁组的(a+b)级精子的百分率[(40.97±11.91)%]低于<35岁组[(48.47±11.78)%]和35～39岁组[(46.84±13.51)%],结果有显著性差异(P<0.05),≥40岁组精子正常形态[(11.76±5.97)%]与<35岁组[(15.25±6.94)%]相比,结果有显著性差异(P<0.05)。男方年龄≥40岁组的受精率(81.52%)、卵裂率(82.61%)、优质胚胎率(52.33%)、植入率(18.06%)、妊娠率(33.33%)与男方年龄<35岁组(分别为83.18%、82.68%、56.99%、22.40%、40.00%)和35～39岁组(分别为78.78%、80.66%、55.01%、21.74%、38.96%)比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。男方年龄≥40岁组患者的流产率(36.36%)与男方年龄<35岁组(8.33%)相比明显升高,但无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:男性年龄对前向运动精子百分率和精子正常形态率有一定影响,而与受精、胚胎质量、植入率、妊娠率、流产率没有明显的相关性。     

精子DNA完整性与体外受精-胚胎移植临床结局的相关性研究

目的 探讨精子DNA完整性与精液参数及体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF-ET）/卵胞浆内单精子注射（ICSI）临床结局的关系.方法 选择2008年6月～2009年6月在解放军105医院生殖医学中心接受IVF/ICSI治疗的179对不育夫妇作为研究对象,采用吖啶橙试验（AOT）对116例实施IVF和63例实施ICSI治疗的男性患者进行精子DNA完整性分析,根据精子DNA碎片指数（DFI）将患者分为DFI≤30%组和DFI＞30%组,比较两组间精液参数、受精率、卵裂率、优胚率、胚胎冷冻率、着床率和临床妊娠率.结果 DFI ＞30%组精子畸形率显著高于≤30%组（P＜0.01）,但两组间精子密度、活动率、前向运动精子（a＋b）均无显著性差异（P＞0.05）;DFI＞30%组IVF和ICSI的优胚率、ICSI的胚胎着床率和临床妊娠率均显著低于DFI≤30%组（P＜0.01,P＜0.05）.结论 精子DNA完整性与精子形态密切相关,精子DNA损伤在IVF/ICSI过程中对胚胎质量有负面影响,并显著影响ICSI的胚胎着床率和妊娠率,建议行ICSI前应对精子DNA完整性进行评估.     

获单卵或双卵周期体外受精方式对治疗结局的影响

目的比较常规体外受精(IVF)和卵胞浆内单精子注射(ICSI)两种授精方式对周期获卵数仅为1～2个患者的治疗结局的影响。方法回顾性分析胚胎移植(ET)168个周期获卵数仅为1～2个的卵巢低反应患者的资料,比较常规IVF组和ICSI组的受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率和临床妊娠率等情况。结果ICSI组受精率高于IVF组(分别为83.7%和63.8%,P0.05);IVF组有24.5%周期的卵子全部不受精,高于ICSI组的9.7%(P0.05);而卵裂率、优质胚胎率、取消移植周期率和临床妊娠率两组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。≥35岁、精液参数不正常时,ICSI组受精率高于IVF组(分别为83.9%和55.6%,P0.05);IVF组有34.8%周期的卵子全部不受精,高于ICSI组的14.3%(P0.05);而卵裂率、优质胚胎率、取消移植周期率和临床妊娠率,两组间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。≥35岁、精液参数正常时及35岁、精液参数正常或不正常时受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率、取消移植周期率和临床妊娠率,两组间的差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论鉴于获卵数为1～2个的周期采用ICSI治疗并不能提高其优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率。因此我们不建议全部行ICSI治疗,男方精液参数正常或处于临界状态建议行IVF治疗。     

Sperm separation in patients with urogenital infections

Summary. A total of 196 patients attending the Center of Dermatology and Andrology, Giessen, Germany, were examined for fertility problems. Polymorphonuclear elastase, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the number of round and peroxidase-positive cells were investigated in addition to routine semen analysis. The ejaculates were also analysed before and after sperm separation by means of swim-up or glass wool filtration. In 20 cases of leukocytospermia, sperm concentration, motility, viability, production of reactive oxygen species, and the number of peroxidase-positive cells were evaluated before and after glass wool filtration. The results show that ROS production by viable spermatozoa is highly correlated with the concentration of PMN elastase and the number of both peroxidase-positive and round cells. Multiple regression analysis with motility as dependent parameter showed the number of round cells ( n = 91; r = -0.332; P = 0.0030) to be the most important parameter affecting motility, while ROS mainly affects the viability of spermatozoa ( n = 69; r = 0.250; P = 0.0107). In the case of leukocytospermia, glass wool filtration significantly reduced the number of peroxidase-positive cells and ROS production ( P = 0.0098 and P = 0.0005, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for ROS production in the ejaculate using a concentration of 1.000 ng ml⁻¹ PMN elastase as decisive parameter resulted in a cut-off value of 49,489.9 counts 10⁻⁷ viable spermatozoa. The statistical parameters were: Sensitivity: 63.2%, specificity: 100%, positive predictive value: 100%, negative predictive value: 36.1%.