A logistic regression model including DNA status and morphology of spermatozoa for prediction of fertilization in vitro.

To determine predictive values of routine semen analysis, sperm morphology evaluation using strict criteria and DNA status for in-vitro fertilization (IVF), 66 consecutive couples undergoing IVF in a university hospital IVF programme were prospectively investigated. Semen samples from 66 men were evaluated by routine semen analysis, morphology evaluation using strict criteria and acridine orange staining for determination of DNA status. A new technique is described for acridine orange scoring which consisted of evaluation of two smears per case, with and without heat treatment.

Micromanipulation of mouse gametes with laser microbeam and optical tweezers.

Micromanipulation of mouse gametes with a commercially available compact laser microbeam system was studied. Both the normal in-vitro fertilization (IVF) group and the laser zona dissection (LZD) group were tested under normal (2 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa/ml) and low (500,000 motile spermatozoa/ml) insemination conditions. Subzonal insemination (SUZI) was also tried in a small group of gametes and the results were compared with those of the low insemination groups.

The protective effects of polymers in the cryopreservation of human and mouse zonae pellucidae and embryos.

Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of injury due to physical factors in embryo cryopreservation and the effect of the polymers dextran, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and Ficoll on this mechanical damage.

Design: Damage to the zona pellucida (ZP) observed after cryopreservation was taken as indication of cryoinjury caused exclusively by physical factors. Human and mouse ZPs from oocytes remaining unfertilized after previous IVF attempts and mouse two-cell embryos were frozen in the presence of different polymers.

Predictive value of morphologically normal sperm concentration in the medium for in-vitro fertilization.

Morphological evaluation of spermatozoa using strict criteria (MEUSC) and conventional sperm parameters were studied with respect to in-vitro fertilization and pregnancy outcome before and after a swim-up selection procedure. Recovered oocytes were inseminated with 50,000 progressively motile spermatozoa, and this study assess the influence of the total number of spermatozoa and of the percentage with strictly normal morphology in the insemination sample on the outcome of IVF. The results showed that the percentages of spermatozoa with normal morphology using strict criteria, both in native and in post-swim-up samples, were the best predictors of IVF outcome.

Male factor as determinant of in-vitro fertilization outcome.

The effect of different semen parameters was evaluated in 200 consecutive couples in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. All semen analyses were performed on the native aliquot of semen which was subsequently prepared and used for in-vitro insemination. Morphology evaluation using strict criteria (kappa 0.