bayesian modeling for multivariate randomized incomplete block design:application in sperm biology researches

b a c k g r o u n d & aim: the aim of the current study was to investigate the advantages of bayesian method in comparison to traditional methods to detect best antioxidant in freezing of human male gametes. methods  &  materials:   semen  samples  were  obtained  from  40  men  whose  sperm  had  normal criteria. a part of each sample was separated without antioxidant  as fresh and the remaining was freezed with and without antioxidant. taurine (in concentrations of 25 mm and50mm) and cysteine (5mm and10mm)  as antioxidants were prepared as intervention.  traditional results were obtained from randomized  incomplete block design and compared with bayesian results in their ability to find the significant difference among our groups. using markov chain monte carlo algorithm within the winbugs  software,  we developed  a bayesian  approach  to estimate  the protective  effect  of antioxidant against inverse effect of freezing on the quality of sperm. r e s u l t s :   classic  method  could detect  the significant  difference  just in cycteine10mm  for viability which was confirmed  by bayesian method. in bayesian  method, in addition to results from classic method,  we  could  find  the  significant  improvement  in  abnormality:  cysteine  10mm,  protamin deficiency: taurine 25 mm and10 mm, viability: cysteine 10mm, dna fragmentation: cysteine 10mm which all of them was interested in clinically, but could not be proved by the traditional methods. c on c l u sio n : bayesian approach in sperm biology research can be considered as a good replacement of the traditional methods for estimation. using this method, we can solve complex and intractable statistical models. future researches should be done to confirm our suggestion.