Sperm function and sperm aneuploidies evaluated on

single cells selected with high magnification technique from

patients with severe testicular damage

Single sperm cells

Group A (n 100)

(nuclear vacuole)

Group B (n 100)

(normal sperm)

Mitochondria (%) 52.2+14.7* 13.3+4.9

Acridine Orange (%) 71.9+11.1* 5.3+3.0

TUNEL (%) 40.1+11.6* 9.3+4.8

Aneuploidies (%) 5.1+3.1 0.0

Garolla et al. High-power microscopy for selecting spermatozoa for ICSI by

physiological status. RBM Online, 2008

Aitken et al. Int J Androl 2009

Problems with DNA fragmentation:

What is to be measured and why?

Different methods

Standardization problems of the tests

Intra-individual variability

Normal values for fertility or normozoospermia?

Type of sample analysed

Small numbers

Subgrouping of infertile men and IVF/ICSI cycles

Identification of high-risk groups

Effect of abstinence time

Influence of sperm DNA damage

on IVF and ICSI Fertilization rate

Negative effect Larson, 2000

Tomlinson, 2001

Tomsu, 2002

Benchaib, 2003 (ICSI)

Larson, 2003

Henkel, 2004

Virro, 2004

Guerin, 2005

Borini, 2006 (ICSI)

Boe-Hansen, 2006 (IVF)

Avendano, 2009

Tarozzi, 2009 (ICSI)

No effect Seli, 2004

Bungum, 2004

Gandini, 2004

Huang, 2005

Zini, 2005

Borini, 2006 (IVF)

Boe-Hansen, 2006 (ICSI)

Bungum, 2007

Lin, 2008

Nucopoullos, 2008

Velez de la Calle, 2008

Tarozzi, 2009 (IVF)

Positive effect Payne, 2005

Pregnancy rate

Negative effect

Lopes, 1998

Host, 2000 (IVF)

Morris, 2002

Benchaib, 2003

Payne, 2005

Huang, 2005

Velez de la Calle, 2008

No effect

Tomlinson, 2001

Tomsu, 2002

Larson, 2003

Gandini, 2004 (ICSI)

Henkel, 2004

Virro, 2004

Guerin, 2005

Zini, 2005

Lin, 2008

Avendano, 2009

HA-ICSI significantly

improves embryo

quality and

development…but

not implantation rate

and pregnancy

New development Array CGH on single sperm