Zeta potential vs apoptotic marker: which is more suitable for ICSI sperm selection?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Andrology
• Infertility research

Background:

• Sperm selection is crucial for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) success.
• Traditional methods rely on morphology and motility.
• Advanced techniques like Zeta potential and Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) offer improved sperm selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of MACS and Zeta potential procedures in selecting high-quality sperm.
• To evaluate the impact of these methods on sperm DNA integrity and protamine deficiency.

Main Methods:

• Semen samples from 36 fertile and infertile men were analyzed.
• Sperm DNA fragmentation, protamine deficiency, and morphology were assessed.
• Unprocessed, MACS-processed, and Zeta-processed sperm were compared using TUNEL, CMA3, and Papanicolaou staining.

Main Results:

• Both MACS and Zeta improved sperm morphology, reduced DNA fragmentation, and decreased protamine deficiency compared to unprocessed samples.
• MACS significantly isolated a higher percentage of sperm with normal acrosome and protamine content than Zeta.
• MACS demonstrated superior performance in isolating sperm with normal acrosome and protamine content.

Conclusions:

• Both MACS and Zeta enhance sperm quality for ICSI.
• MACS is more efficient for severe male factor infertility, improving selection of sperm with normal acrosome and protamine content.
• Potential transfer of MACS beads into the oocytes requires further resolution.