[Study of different components in spermatic function after failure of in vitro fertilization]

The fertilizing potential of sperm depends on numerous properties which influence its functional competence. In order to understand the causes of IVF failure, we studied some of these properties-movement characteristics, hyperactivated motility, acrosome reaction-for infertile sperm (0% in vitro fertilization) and compared to those of fertile sperm (> or = 50% fertilization, control group). Movement characteristics, assessed by video-micrographic analysis, are significantly different for the 2 groups: infertile sperm register the lowest values for motility characteristics and hyperactivation. The addition of ionophore A23187 to the medium improves the hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction, the values for the latter, however, remain significantly lower compared to the control. These results are in favor of a detailed study of motility and induced acrosome reaction as complement for the diagnosis of male infertility.