Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Vessel-Sparing Microsurgical Longitudinal Intussusception Vasoepididymostomy to Treat Epididymal Obstructive Azoospermia
Published on: May 27, 2022
Abnormal vessel morphology in boys born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Margareta Hök Wikstrand1, Aimon Niklasson, Kerstin Strömland
1Department of Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. margareta.hok-wikstrand@vgregion.se
Insights
Children born via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) show abnormal retinal vascularization, particularly boys. This finding suggests underlying mechanisms beyond birth weight or prematurity influence ocular development in ICSI offspring.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is associated with risks like preterm birth and low birth weight.
- These conditions may predispose children to central nervous and vascular system diseases.
- Ocular fundus morphology in ICSI-conceived children requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ocular fundus morphology in children conceived via ICSI.
- To compare retinal vascularization patterns between ICSI children and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Ocular fundus photographs were obtained from 82 children conceived via ICSI and 203 controls at age 5.
- Digital image analysis was used to evaluate ocular fundus morphology and central retinal vessels.
Main Results:
- Children conceived via ICSI exhibited abnormal retinal vascularization with fewer vascular branching points compared to controls (p = 0.0002).
- A significant gender difference was observed: ICSI boys had fewer retinal branching points than control boys (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- ICSI-conceived boys demonstrate abnormal retinal vessel morphology characterized by reduced central retinal branching points.
- This abnormality persists even after accounting for low birth weight and preterm birth, indicating other contributing factors.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms behind these vascular differences.
Aim:
Children born after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are at risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and perinatal morbidity which may predispose for diseases of the central nervous and vascular systems. Our aim was to investigate the ocular fundus morphology in children born after ICSI.
Method:
Children born after ICSI (n = 82) had ocular fundus photographs taken at the age of 5 years and results were compared with those of a control group (n = 203). The ocular fundus morphology with the central retinal vessels was evaluated by digital image analysis.
Results:
Children born after ICSI (n = 57) had abnormal retinal vascularization as evidenced by a lower number of vascular branching points compared with the control group (n = 181) (p = 0.0002). A gender difference was found whereby the ICSI boys (n = 35) had significantly fewer retinal branching points (median 24, range 19-29.5) compared with the control boys (median 27.5, range 20-37) (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
Our findings showed that ICSI boys have abnormal vessel morphology as demonstrated by a reduced number of central retinal branching points. The difference still remained after elimination of factors earlier shown to be associated with a low number of vascular branching points, i.e. low birth weight and preterm, suggesting other mechanisms responsible for the low number of vascular branching points.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Infertility in Males
01:07Development of Blood Vessels
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
01:41Spermatogenesis