Detection of sperm DNA fragmentation in IVF-ICSI patients and correlation with sperm quality and treatment outcome

ABSTRACT

The incidence of DNA fragmentation in the sperm head [DFl] is higher in infertile male population compared to the fertile one. Several methods can be used to detect sperm DNA fragmentation. Among this method TUNEL assay is reported to be the most related to the male fertility potential. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation and the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI]. Eighty-five couples undergoing ICSI procedure were recruited to this study. Sperm from the row ejaculate was examined for sperm DFI was using TUNEL assay. There was no relation between the sperm DFI and the conventional WHO semen parameter. There was also no significant difference in the fertilization and cleavage rate between couples with low, moderate or high DFI [<15%, 15-30%, >30% respectively]. Pregnancy rate was significantly lower when sperm DFI was higher than 15% and no pregnancy as achieved when the DFI was higher than 30%. These results demonstrate the negative effect of the DNA fragmentation on the ICSI outcome. This deleterious effect seems to affect later stages of embryonic development