P-19: Assessment of Apoptosis Marker in Novel Sperm Selection Procedure

Background: Sperm that bypasses natural apoptosis may find their way into semen. In order to avoid the insemination of such sperm during an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, novel sperm selection procedures such as the Zeta procedure have been implemented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether this procedure, in addition to reducing the number of immature or DNA fragmented sperm, could influence the number of annexin-positive sperm in the selected insemination population. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were collected from 30 infertile couples and divided into the control, density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and DGC-Zeta groups. In each group, the percentages of abnormal sperm morphology, protamine deficiency, DNA fragmentation and external phosphatidyl serine (EPS) were assessed. 22 semen samples were also assessed capacitation and external phosphatidyl serine (EPS). Results: Sperm selected by the DGC-Zeta procedure presented with a higher percentage of sperm with normal protamine content, morphology and reduced DNA fragmentation. However, the percentage of annexin V positive sperm increased. Such increase was also observed following capacitation. Conclusion: EPS following DGC-Zeta increased that appears to be part of the normal physiological process of fertilization, as observed following capacitation. Following DGC-Zeta decreased percentage of abnormal sperm morphology, protamine deficiency, DNA fragmentation.