Does Microfluidic Sperm Sorting Affect Embryo Euploidy Rates in Couples with High Sperm DNA Fragmentation?

Male infertility contributes as the main factor in 30-50% of infertility cases. Conventional methods for sperm preparation have induced questioning of sperm recovery rates. The microfluidic sperm sorting (MSS) technique selects highly motile sperm with lower levels of SDF (sperm DNA fragmentation) compared to conventional sperm sorting techniques. This study aimed to determine whether utilizing this technique will reveal better embryo quality and euploidy rates in couples with repeated implantation failure (RIF) and high SDF in a new PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies) cycle. This retrospective study included couples referred to PGT-A for previous repeated ART (assisted reproductive techniques) cycle failures and with high SDF. In their new cycles, couples who accepted the technique were assigned to the MSS group, and the rest were managed with DGC (density-gradient centrifugation). Two groups were compared in terms of fertilization and euploidy rates, clinical miscarriage and live birth rates, the total number of blastocysts, and top quality blastocysts. There was no difference between the groups regarding fertilization rates, euploidy rates, clinical miscarriage, and live birth rates. The total number of blastocysts and top quality blastocysts were significantly higher in the MSS group. The MSS technique provides a higher number of top-quality blastocysts than DGC; however, neither euploidy nor live birth rates improved. Studies focusing on confounding factors to embryonic genomic status in the presence of high SDF are needed.

The relationship between glomerular function and podocyte structure of pre-proteinuria and acute nephrosis in puromycin aminonucleoside-induced rat models: a comparative electron microscopic study.

Puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) has been generally utilized as model of podocyte injury followed by massive proteinuria, severe damage on endocytotic activity of epithelial cells and postmodification of endocytosed compounds. However, total PA nephrosis (PAN) mechanism cannot be understood. We aimed to study glomerular function, foot process degeneration and transport pathways of podocytes in pre-proteinuria and acute PAN rats. Eighteen male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control, pre-proteinuria and acute nephrosis groups (n=6). PA was injected into pre-proteinuria group for three times and acute group for nine times. Proteinuria levels in urine, creatinine and albumin levels in blood were detected 24 hours after PA injections. Renal cortex samples were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Proteinuria levels in acute group significantly elevated, whereas creatinine clearance, serum albumin levels and urine volumes diminished compared to control and pre-proteinuria groups. In pre-proteinuria group, hypertrophy and structurally rich cytoplasm were detected only within podocytes. Acute group had various protein absorption granules secreted from podocyte cytoplasm to the urinary space through exocytosis after lysosomal digestion; but not observed in pre-proteinuria group. The number of slit pores in pre-proteinuria group decreased, particularly related to fusion of foot processes, subsequently leading to proteinuria. We concluded that foot process fusion begins prior to development of proteinuria although their serum albumin and creatinine clearance levels do not differ significantly. Additionally, we suggested that in acute PAN, first affected glomerular cells could be podocytes and there could be a correlation between glomerular function and number of slit pores.