A novel solution for freezing small numbers of spermatozoa using a sperm vitrification device.

Study Question: Does a novel sperm vitrification device (SpermVD) provide an efficient method for freezing a small number of human spermatozoa from men suffering from non-obstructive azoospermia?

Summary Answer: The novel SpermVD is an efficient and simple carrier method for freezing a small number of spermatozoa in low-volume droplets, reducing post-thaw search time from hours to minutes, allowing a 96% recovery rate and leading to successful use of sperm for fertilization.

What Is Known Already: Previous methods for cryopreservation of small numbers of human spermatozoa (e.g.

Fertility outcomes after extended searches for ejaculated spermatozoa in men with virtual azoospermia.

Objective: To assess the fertility outcomes of extended searches for ejaculated spermatozoa in men with virtual azoospermia.

Design: A retrospective cohort of 242 couples whose male partner suffered from nonobstructive azoospermia and who were treated with the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Setting: Not applicable.

Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a step toward a clinical algorithm.

Objective: To study the advantage of intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the first artificial reproductive technology (ART) cycle and in consecutive cycles.

Design: A cohort study.

Setting: Single outpatient fertility center.

Derivation, propagation and controlled differentiation of human embryonic stem cells in suspension.

Undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are currently propagated on a relatively small scale as monolayer colonies. Culture of hESCs as floating aggregates is widely used for induction of differentiation into embryoid bodies. Here we show that hESC lines can be derived from floating inner cell masses in suspension culture conditions that do not involve feeder cells or microcarriers.

The role of FGF-signaling in early neural specification of human embryonic stem cells.

The mechanisms that govern human neural specification are not completely characterized. Here we used human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to study the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-signaling in early human neural specification. Differentiation was obtained by culturing clusters of hESCs in chemically-defined medium.