Teste de flexibilidade da cauda do espermatozóide: um teste simples para seleção de espermatozóides viáveis para injeção intracitoplasmática de espermatozóide a partir de amostras de sêmen sem espermatozóides móveis

PURPOSE: The objective was to describe the results of the injection of immotile spermatozoa with flexible tails when only immotile spermatozoa are present in the semen sample. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the procedure results for 10 couples who participated in our intracytoplasmic sperm injection program. The sperm tail was considered flexible when it moved up and down independently of the head movement, and it was considered inflexible when the movement occurred together (tail plus head). The fertilization and pregnancy rate were analyzed. RESULTS: The normal fertilization rate (presence of 2 pronuclei) was 30.3% (40/132), and the abnormal fertilization rate (presence of less than or more than 2 pronuclei) was 6.81% (9/132). A total of 52 embryos were obtained with 9 transfer procedures performed (pregnancy rate: 11.12%). CONCLUSIONS: The sperm tail flexibility test (STFT) is an easy and cost-effective way for selecting viable immotile spermatozoa and can be used as an alternative method for determining the viability of spermatozoa. This test seems to be a simple and risk-free method when compared to the swelling test.OBJETIVO: Descrever os resultados da injeção de espermatozóides imóveis com cauda flexível quando somente estavam presentes nas amostras espermatozóides imóveis. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo analisando os resultados dos procedimentos de injeção intracitoplasmática de espermatozóide, de 10 casais, realizados no nosso centro. A cauda do espermatozóide era considerada flexível quando esta se movia para cima e para baixo independente do movimento da sua cabeça, e era considerada rígida quando o movimento acontecia em bloco (cabeça e cauda). Os parâmetros de avaliação foram taxas de fertilização e gestação. RESULTADOS: A taxa normal de fertilização (presença de 2 pró-núcleos) encontrada foi 30,3% (40/132) e a taxa de fertilização anormal (presença de menos ou mais de 2 pró-núcleos) foi 6,81% (9/132). No total foram obtidos 52 embriões e foram realizados 9 procedimentos de transferência, a taxa de gestação encontrada foi de 11,12%. CONCLUSÕES: O teste de flexibilidade da cauda do espermatozóide é um método fácil e de baixo custo para avaliação da viabilidade de espermatozóides imóveis e pode ser usado como um método alternativo de determinação da viabilidade de espermatozóides. Esse teste nos parece ser mais simples e com menor risco quando comparado ao Swelling Test

Influence of female age on blastulation rate of embryo produced by ICSI

OBJECTIVES: There is a tendency to adopt prolonged culture inolder patients; however there are no conclusive results about theinfluence of age on blastulation rate. Therefore, we decided to analyzethe influence of female age on prolonged culture results. METHODS:One hundred and seven ICSI procedures performed in our centerfrom January 1999 to December 2000 were retrospectively analyzed.The blastulation rate was verified and correlated with patient age.RESULTS: In average, 2.8 blastocysts/patient were transferred. Theblastulation rate for each age group was: 180 (32%) in the group <35 years; 163 (29%) in the group 35-40 years, and 118 (21%) in thegroup > 40 years. The statistical analysis demonstrated a significantdifference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The percentage of embryosthat achieved the blastocyst stage was different in each age groupand this percentage dropped as patient age increased. Female agemay influence on blastulation rate of pre-embryos, observing a dropin this rate as patient age increased