A successful healthy childbirth and an ongoing evolutive pregnancy in a case of partial globozoospermia by hyaluronic acid sperm selection

AbstractIntracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a commonly used in vitro fertilization technique. Selection of sperm for injection is currently done using subjective assessment of morphology, which may not accurately identify the best-quality sperm. Hyaluronic acid receptors on sperm plasma membranes are a marker of maturity, and sperms which are capable of binding immobilized hyaluronic acid in vitro are of higher quality. This can be used as an advanced sperm selection technique to choose sperm for ICSI, termed physiological ICSI (PICSI). Several studies reported improved fertility treatment outcomes when using PICSI compared with conventional ICSI; however, the majority of studies are underpowered. Recently, a large, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, known as the Hyaluronic Acid Binding Sperm Selection (HABSelect) trial, found a significant reduction in miscarriage rates with PICSI, but no significant effect on live birth rate. There are still many avenues through which PICSI may provide an advantage, subject to confirmation by future research, such as improved long-term health of offspring. Other advanced sperm selection techniques include intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection, magnetic-activated cell sorting, and Zeta potential sperm selection; however, the most recent Cochrane review concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to ascertain whether these techniques improve clinical outcomes, such as live birth rates.

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Applications of a microfabricated device for evaluating sperm function

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/39.9.1944 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 39 (9) ◽

pp. 1944-1947 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

L J Kricka ◽

O Nozaki ◽

S Heyner ◽

W T Garside ◽

P Wilding

Keyword(s):

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Cervical Mucus ◽

Sperm Function ◽

Sperm Selection ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Feature Size ◽

Specific Antibodies ◽

Branching Structures ◽

Mesoscale Structures ◽

Simultaneous Assessment

Abstract Mesoscale structures (microns dimensions, nL-pL volumes) have been designed and fabricated in silicon for use in various analytical tasks. We studied sperm motility and performed sperm selection in channels (80 microns wide x 20 microns deep), branching structures (40 microns wide x 20 microns deep, eight bifurcations), and channels containing barriers (7 microns feature size). Sperm-cervical mucus and sperm-hyaluronic acid interactions were assessed by using appropriate microchannel-chamber structures filled with either cervical mucus or hyaluronic acid. Simultaneous assessment of the potency of different spermicides (e.g., nonoxynol-9, C13G) and spermicide concentrations was achieved with structures comprising chambers containing spermicide connected via channels to a central chamber into which semen was introduced. Semen was also tested for the presence of sperm-specific antibodies by using microchannels filled with human anti-IgG antibody-coated microbeads.

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Sperm selection with hyaluronic acid (PICSI) improves LBR in IVF treatments

Fertility and Sterility ◽

10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.07.393 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 108 (3) ◽

pp. e130

Author(s):

L. Alegre ◽

N. Garrido ◽

M. Munoz ◽

M. de los Santos ◽

J. Remohi Gimenez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Sperm Selection

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Practical Applications of Sperm Selection Techniques as a Tool for Improving Reproductive Efficiency

Veterinary Medicine International ◽

10.4061/2011/894767 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

J. M. Morrell ◽

H. Rodriguez-Martinez

Keyword(s):

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Sex Selection ◽

Female Reproductive Tract ◽

Sperm Selection ◽

Domestic Species ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Selection For ◽

Hyaluronic Acid Binding

Modern biotechnologies are used extensively in the animal breeding industry today. Therefore, it is essential that sperm handling procedures do not modulate the normal physiological mechanisms occurring in the female reproductive tract. In this paper, the different selection mechanisms occurringin vivoare described briefly, together with their relevance to artificial insemination, followed by a detailed description of the different selection processes used in reproductive biotechnologies. These selection methods included fractionated semen collection, cryopreservation, biomimetic sperm selection, selection based on hyaluronic acid binding, and last, but not least, sperm sex selection. Biomimetic sperm selection for AI or for cryopreservation could improve pregnancy rates and help to reverse the decline in fertility seen in several domestic species over the recent decades. Similarly, selection for hyaluronic acid binding sites may enable the most mature spermatozoa to be selected for IVF or ICSI.

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