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