Efficiency of hyaluronic acid binding ability to improve sperm selection in intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]

ABSTRACT

Background: intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection [ICSI] is a reliable method for single sperm selection and injection to a large number of infertile patients. Human oocytes are naturally surrounded by cumulus cells embedded in the intracellular matrix made primarily of hyaluronic acid [HA], which plays a role as physiological selector for Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection [PICSI]. Mature spermatozoa are able to bind to and digest HA for the best chance of reaching the oocyte and to maintain fertilization. The intact human spermatozoa are bound to immobilize HA surrounding oocyte in vitro and this leads to reduced risk of chromosomal imbalance or chromatin diseases. Selection of spermatozoa by HA before ICSI may help to optimize the outcomes of the treatment; thus, our study aimed to compare ICSI results, based on the hyaluronic acid or traditional method for sperm selection