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Sperm morphological abnormalities visualised at high magnification predict embryonic development, from fertilisation to the blastocyst stage, in couples undergoing ICSI

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the predictive value of the motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) on embryo morphology.

Methods

The morphologies of 540 embryos obtained from 60 couples undergoing ICSI were evaluated from days 1 to 5 of development and were examined for associations with the percentages of morphologically normal paternal sperm and of the paternal sperm with large nuclear vacuoles (LNVs) as determined by MSOME.

Results

An increased percentage of LNV sperm was associated with increased odds of a zygote presenting with pronuclear abnormalities. It was also associated with decreased odds of (i) normal cleavage on days 2 and 3 of development, (ii) the presence of a high-quality embryo on day 3, (iii) the development of an embryo to the blastocyst stage, and (iv) an embryo possessing a normal trophectoderm and inner cell mass. The calculated areas under the curves differed for the embryos that did and did not develop to the blastocyst stage and for the high- and low-quality blastocysts. The optimal cut-off value for the percentage of LNV sperm that maximised proper blastocyst formation was ≤24.5 %, and the cut-off value that maximised blastocyst quality was ≤19.5 %.

Conclusions

These results suggest a very early onset of paternal influences on embryo development. The evaluation of the incidence of vacuoles by MSOME may significantly improve upon the prognostic information provided by conventional semen analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fertility – Centro de Fertilização Assistida, Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 4545, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01401-002

    Amanda Souza Setti, Daniela Paes de Almeida Ferreira Braga, Livia Vingris, Thais Serzedello, Rita de Cássia Sávio Figueira, Assumpto Iaconelli Jr. & Edson Borges Jr.

  2. Instituto Sapientiae—Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa em Reprodução Humana Assistida, Rua Vieira Maciel, 62, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 04503-040

    Amanda Souza Setti, Daniela Paes de Almeida Ferreira Braga, Assumpto Iaconelli Jr. & Edson Borges Jr.

  3. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo, Rua Dr. Cesário Motta Junior, 61, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01221-020

    Amanda Souza Setti & Rita de Cássia Sávio Figueira

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  1. Amanda Souza Setti
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  2. Daniela Paes de Almeida Ferreira Braga
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  3. Livia Vingris
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  6. Assumpto Iaconelli Jr.
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Correspondence to Edson Borges Jr..

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Capsule The proportion of sperm with large nuclear vacuoles negatively influences zygote, embryo and blastocyst development and quality.

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Setti, A.S., Braga, D.P.A.F., Vingris, L. et al. Sperm morphological abnormalities visualised at high magnification predict embryonic development, from fertilisation to the blastocyst stage, in couples undergoing ICSI. J Assist Reprod Genet 31, 1533–1539 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0326-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-014-0326-9

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