Magnetic-activated cell sorting is not completely effective at reducing sperm DNA fragmentation

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Spermatozoa quality assessment
• Assisted reproductive technologies

Background:

• Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is a significant factor impacting male fertility.
• Assessing and reducing SDF is crucial for successful assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
• The MACS (magnetic-activated cell sorting) procedure is utilized to improve sperm quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the homogeneity of sperm DNA fragmentation reduction using the MACS procedure.
• To compare SDF levels in neat ejaculates (NEAT), MACS- (passed through), and MACS+ (retained) sperm populations.
• To determine the correlation between initial SDF levels and MACS procedure efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) was analyzed in neat ejaculates (NEAT) from 10 idiopathic infertile and 10 normozoospermic patients.
• Spermatozoa were separated into MACS- (passed through) and MACS+ (retained) fractions using annexin-V microbeads.
• The relative change in SDF was assessed in these subpopulations.

Main Results:

• The MACS protocol significantly reduced mean SDF (59.2%) and highly degraded DNA (SDD; 65.7%).
• SDF reduction was not uniform across all patients, showing a positive correlation with initial NEAT SDF levels (r=0.772).
• The MACS procedure was 2-3 times more effective when initial SDF was ≥30%.

Conclusions:

• MACS effectively reduces SDF, especially highly degraded sperm DNA, but a small subpopulation of damaged sperm may remain.
• MACS efficacy is significantly influenced by the baseline SDF level in the neat ejaculate.
• In some cases, the post-MACS SDF level did not show significant improvement or even increased compared to the NEAT ejaculate, impacting suitability for ICSI.