Human reproduction in space. Late results

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarPostprint (published version

Aspectes ètics i jurídics relacionats amb la donació de gàmetes

Donació de gàmetes; Aspectes ètics; JurisprudènciaDonación de gametos; Aspectos éticos; JurisprudenciaGamete donation; Ethical aspects; JurisprudenceLes tècniques de reproducció assistida (TRA) i especialment els programes de donació de gàmetes han possibilitat que dones en edat fèrtil amb problemes per produir oòcits regularment puguin tenir fills mitjançant oòcits de donant. D’altra banda, dones sense parella masculina o amb parella afectada per un factor d’infertilitat masculina greu també han pogut tenir accés a aquestes tècniques de reproducció gràcies a la disponibilitat de bancs d’esperma de donants

Microgravity effects on frozen human sperm samples

Purpose: Microgravity has severe effects on cellular and molecular structures as well as on metabolic interactions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of microgravity (µg) exposure on human frozen sperm samples. Methods: Sibling samples from 15 normozoospermic healthy donors were frozen using glycerol as cryoprotectant and analyzed under microgravity and ground conditions. Microgravity was obtained by parabolic flights using a CAP10B plane. The plane executed 20 parabolic maneuvers with a mean of 8.5 seconds of microgravity for each parabola. Results: Frozen sperm samples preserved in cryostraws and stored in a secure and specific nitrogen vapor cryoshipper do not suffer significant alterations after µg exposure. Comparing the study group (µg) and the control group (1g), similar results were obtained in the main parameters studied: Sperm motility (M/ml) 13.72 ± 12.57 vs 13.03±12.13 (-0.69 95% CI [-2.9;1.52]); Progressive a+b sperm motility (%) 13 21.83±11.69 vs 22.54±12.83 (0.03 95% CI [-0.08;0.15]); Sperm vitality (%) 46.42±10.81 vs 44.62±9.34 14 (-0.04 95% CI [-0.13;0.05]); Morphologically normal spermatozoa (%) 7.03±2.61 vs 8.09±3.61 (0.12 15 95% CI [0.01;0.24]); DNA sperm fragmentation by SCD (%) 13.33±5.12 vs 13.88±6.14 (0.03 95% CI [- 16 0.09;0.16]); Apoptotic spermatozoa by MACS (%) 15.47±15.04 vs 23.80±23.63 (-0.21 95% CI [- 17 0.66;1.05]). Conclusion: The lack of differences obtained between frozen samples exposed to µg and those maintained in ground conditions provides the possibility of considering the safe transport of human male gametes to space. Nevertheless, further research is needed to validate the results and to consider the possibility of creating a human sperm bank outside the Earth.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Guia pràctica de la reproducció assistida

Reproducció humana assistida; Assisted Human Reproduction; Reproducción humana asistidaLa dificultat de concebre un infant de manera natural sovint genera dubtes a les persones. A més, el desconeixement d’alguns aspectes previs durant la realització de tractaments d’esterilitat es barregen amb els desitjos i les probabilitats reals. És per això que el Departament de Salut creu convenient contribuir a la millora de la informació de les persones que pensen en la possibilitat d’optar per l’ajuda d’aquestes tècniques amb la finalitat que les decisions que es prenguin siguin, consegüentment, més autònomes i encertades

Can frozen sperm samples withstand being sent to space? Considering the creation of a sperm bank outside Earth

The aim of the research is to investigate the effects of microgravity exposure on the motility and vitality of human sperm. The likelihood of human reproduction in space relies heavily on the conditions in which human sperm may act under altered gravity conditions. A first step before longer duration experiments in microgravity conditions are conducted is to model the alterations that frozen human sperm may suffer, and their validation in short-term parabolic flights. It is unknown if microgravity has a negative effect on frozen sperm samples. Our hypothesis is that frozen samples can withstand different gravity conditions without significant alterations. In order to test this hypothesis, 15 sperm samples from healthy donors were divided in two fractions (microgravity vs ground conditions) and frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen until the day of the experiment. A specific container as payload carrying the frozen sperm samples in vapors of liquid nitrogen was located in the aircraft cockpit, with no manual operation during the parabolas. A total of three parabolic flights (5 samples/flight) were completed during 2018-19 with 20 parabolas conducted in each flight. The parabolic flights allowed for 5 to 8 seconds of microgravity periods, using a CAP10B aerobatic plane operated by Barcelona-Sabadell Aeroclub, with UPC BarcelonaTech and Women’s Health Dexeus, a leading center in human assisted reproduction, in charge of the research. The CAP10B aircraft has successfully proven in the last decade to perform optimal parabolas for both education and research purposes. After thawing, sperm motility was evaluated by using a Makler® counting chamber and SCA®CASA System as a computerized semen motility analyzer. Sperm vitality was also evaluated by using Eosin-nigrosin staining. The study was approved by the Ethical Board of Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona (Spain). Comparing mean values between control group (Earth) and the study group (microgravity) no significant statistical differences were found, in any of the parameters analyzed: motile sperm concentration (106/ml); progressive a+b motility (%), velocity (µm/s), straight line velocity (µm/s), linearity index (%) and vitality (%). Limitations of this parabolic flight are a short period of microgravity and hypergravity peaks before and after the parabolas. In conclusion, these are the first experimental results published while exposing human frozen sperm to microgravity in a controlled parabolic flight experiment. More in-flight short-term and long-term studies are needed to verify the viability of transporting human sperm samples outside Earth, and to continue advancing the possibility of human reproduction in space.Postprint (published version

P-008 Microgravity exposure significantly decreases sperm motility and vitality. Can we consider human reproduction outside the Earth?

Motility and vitality of fresh human sperm samples are significantly decreased under microgravity conditions obtained by parabolic flightPeer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i Benestar::3.7 - Per a 2030, garantir l’accés universal als serveis de salut sexual i reproductiva, inclosos els de planificació familiar, informació i educació, així com la integració de la salut reproductiva a les estratègies i els programes nacionalsPostprint (published version

Decreased human sperm motility and vitality after fast gravity load changes in a parabolic flight

Little is known about the effects of low gravity on human gametes. The aim of this study was to analyze if fresh human sperm samples after fast gravity load changes suffered any detrimental effect in comparison to the splits maintained in Earth’s gravity. Fifteen fresh samples from normozoospermic donors were analyzed. Statistically significant differences in vitality (69.7 ± 9.9 % vs 72.4 ± 9.7 %, [95% CI: 0.002,0.07]); motile sperm concentration (23.7 ± 15.3 M/ml vs 31.5 ± 25.1 M/ml, [95% CI: 1.03,14.65]); grade “a” sperm concentration (8.7 ± 6.5 M/ml vs 11.7 ± 9.9 M/ml, [95% CI: 0.71,5.28]); percentage of progressive motility sperm (30 ± 12.9 % vs 36 ± 14.3 %, [95% CI: 0.10,0.37]) and curvilinear velocity VCL: 45.7 ± 12.8 µm/s vs 47.7 ± 13.3 µm/s, [95% CI: 0.79,3.22]) were observed. No statistical differences were observed in other sperm kinematic parameters, morphology, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, even though it did not result in a total loss, heavy gravity load changes including microgravity causes a significant decrease in sperm vitality and motility suggesting that negative consequences would be even higher if the exposure were longer. The results obtained indicate that further research is really needed before Assisted Reproduction will be considered for the future human reproduction outside the Earth.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Guia pràctica de la reproducció assistida

Reproducció humana assistida; Assisted Human Reproduction; Reproducción humana asistidaLa dificultat de concebre un infant de manera natural sovint genera dubtes a les persones. A més, el desconeixement d’alguns aspectes previs durant la realització de tractaments d’esterilitat es barregen amb els desitjos i les probabilitats reals. És per això que el Departament de Salut creu convenient contribuir a la millora de la informació de les persones que pensen en la possibilitat d’optar per l’ajuda d’aquestes tècniques amb la finalitat que les decisions que es prenguin siguin, consegüentment, més autònomes i encertades

Reproduction in Space: is human sperm altered by microgravity?

Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarPostprint (published version

Can frozen sperm samples withstand being sent to space? Considering the creation of a sperm bank outside Earth

The aim of the research is to investigate the effects of microgravity exposure on the motility and vitality of human sperm. The likelihood of human reproduction in space relies heavily on the conditions in which human sperm may act under altered gravity conditions. A first step before longer duration experiments in microgravity conditions are conducted is to model the alterations that frozen human sperm may suffer, and their validation in short-term parabolic flights. It is unknown if microgravity has a negative effect on frozen sperm samples. Our hypothesis is that frozen samples can withstand different gravity conditions without significant alterations. In order to test this hypothesis, 15 sperm samples from healthy donors were divided in two fractions (microgravity vs ground conditions) and frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen until the day of the experiment. A specific container as payload carrying the frozen sperm samples in vapors of liquid nitrogen was located in the aircraft cockpit, with no manual operation during the parabolas. A total of three parabolic flights (5 samples/flight) were completed during 2018-19 with 20 parabolas conducted in each flight. The parabolic flights allowed for 5 to 8 seconds of microgravity periods, using a CAP10B aerobatic plane operated by Barcelona-Sabadell Aeroclub, with UPC BarcelonaTech and Women’s Health Dexeus, a leading center in human assisted reproduction, in charge of the research. The CAP10B aircraft has successfully proven in the last decade to perform optimal parabolas for both education and research purposes. After thawing, sperm motility was evaluated by using a Makler® counting chamber and SCA®CASA System as a computerized semen motility analyzer. Sperm vitality was also evaluated by using Eosin-nigrosin staining. The study was approved by the Ethical Board of Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona (Spain). Comparing mean values between control group (Earth) and the study group (microgravity) no significant statistical differences were found, in any of the parameters analyzed: motile sperm concentration (106/ml); progressive a+b motility (%), velocity (µm/s), straight line velocity (µm/s), linearity index (%) and vitality (%). Limitations of this parabolic flight are a short period of microgravity and hypergravity peaks before and after the parabolas. In conclusion, these are the first experimental results published while exposing human frozen sperm to microgravity in a controlled parabolic flight experiment. More in-flight short-term and long-term studies are needed to verify the viability of transporting human sperm samples outside Earth, and to continue advancing the possibility of human reproduction in space