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Normal fertilization and embryo development by intracytoplasmic sperm injection of round-headed acrosomeless sperm
H Bourne1, D Y Liu, G N Clarke
1Reproductive Biology Unit, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Objective:
To investigate the ability of round-headed acrosomeless sperm to bind to the human zona pellucida (ZP) and oolemma and to fertilize human oocytes by intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Design:
Oocytes that had failed to fertilize in IVF were used for sperm-ZP and spermoolemma binding tests. Sperm from a fertile donor was used as a control for oocyte variability. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was used for assisted fertilization.
Setting:
University- and hospital-based reproductive research laboratory and tertiary referral IVF program.
Patients:
Case study of a couple in which the man has 100% round-headed acrosomeless sperm in the ejaculate.
Main Outcome Measure:
Fertilization and embryo development and the ability of sperm to bind to the ZP and oolemma.
Results:
No ZP or oolemma binding was achieved, but normal fertilization and embryo development was obtained after intracytoplasmic injection of round-headed acrosomeless sperm. However, no pregnancy was achieved after the transfer of two cleaving embryos.
Conclusions:
Normal fertilization and embryo development from round-headed acrosomeless sperm is possible with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. However, it remains to be reported whether pregnancy can result from fertilization with this type of sperm defect.