Complete globozoospermia associated with DPY19L2 mutation treated with calcium ionophore ionomycin and ICSI results in live birth

The successful outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with round-headed spermatozoa (globozoospermia) and ionomycin assisted activation oocytes is reported. A 30-year-old man with 100% globozoospermia underwent ICSI treatment. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) detection indicates that the patient was DPY19L2 homozygous deletion. Nine metaphase II oocytes were injected with round-headed sperms. After ICSI, the oocytes were activated with ionomycin. Two out of 9 metaphase II oocytes were fertilized after ICSI and ionomycin activation. One embryo was transferred and a singleton pregnancy was obtained that ended in the delivery of a healthy child. Our case reports demonstrate that artificial oocyte activation using calcium ionophore ionomycin is beneficial in patients with globozoospermia associated with DPY19L2 mutation, and the method of oocyte activation does not affect the normal growth of preimplantation embryos. Further studies are needed to confirm the safety of oocyte activation in born babies. Correspondence to: Shuai Liu, Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Health Birth, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Hebei Research Institute for Family Planning, 480 Heping Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, 050071 China, Tel/Fax: +86 31187041556, E-mail: [email protected]