Authors

Koji Matsuura, Ph.D., Takuya Uozumi, M.S., Takuya Furuichi, Ph.D., Ikuyo Sugimoto, M.S., Mieko Kodama, B.S., Hiroaki Funahashi, Ph.D.

Volume 99, Issue 2, Pages 400-407, February 2013

Abstract

Objective:

To develop a microfluidic device that can reduce the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment time by increasing sperm concentration.

Design:

We compared the ICSI treatment time required for porcine sperm using a method employing the microfluidic device and one using the conventional microdroplet method.

Settings:

Academic research laboratories at Okayama University.

Animal(s):

Reproductive cells of porcine sperm, oocytes, and embryos.

Intervention(s):

Cell manipulations, ICSI, and embryo culture.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Average ICSI treatment time and sperm concentration.

Result(s):

The average ICSI treatment time (mean ± SEM) using the method with the microfluidic device for poor-quality semen (sperm concentration, 2.0 × 104 cells/mL) was significantly shorter than the treatment time using the conventional microdroplet method (265 ± 15 seconds [n = 43] vs. 347 ± 19 seconds [n = 50]). When diluted semen with a sperm concentration of 2.0 × 105 cells/mL was used, no significant difference was observed between the two methods (n = 50 and n = 48).

Conclusion(s):

The microfluidic device can reduce the time required for ICSI treatment that is used to increase sperm concentration in poor-quality semen samples. The results suggest that this device may be clinically useful for ICSI treatment in human assisted reproductive technology.

Read the full text at: http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(12)02322-9/fulltext