Conventional Magnification Suffices for High-quality Sperm Selection When Embryologist Experience Is Optimized: A Comparison with MSOME

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Research and clinical center for infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

2 Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

3 Abortion Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

10.22080/jgr.2026.30952.1454

Abstract

The ability to choose the appropriate sperm is essential to enhance the assisted reproductive technologies results. This study evaluated the performance of five embryologists in selecting sperm using conventional magnifications. In phase 1, sperm selection was done by an embryologist working on single sperm selection at ×400 magnification. Phase 2 involved 5 embryologists who selected sperm at ×200 and ×400 magnifications, twice for three semen samples, that their normal morphology confirmed at 2%, 4%, and 6%. Morphometric parameters with motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) and Sperm DNA fragmentation were assessed with sperm chromatin dispersion. The mean Cassuto score of selected sperm in phases 1 and 2 were 4.72± 0.94 and 4.02± 1.74, respectively. Data from phase 1 showed 95.3% and 1.7% placed in class I and no-class group (Sperm containing post acrosomal vacuoles). Morphometric evaluation of single sperm showed results of embryologist B was similar to phase 1 in terms of class I (100%) and no- class (0%) groups. Compared to raw semen, qualitatively single sperm selection by 5 embryologists significantly diminished sperm DNA fragmentation (16.73± 1.94 vs 22.26 ± 2.52, p˂ 0.00). It was comparable to previous phase (14.66± 3.21 vs 20 ± 3, p˂ 0.015). The sperm selection based at conventional magnification had lower DNA fragmentation than the raw semen samples (16.73± 1.94 vs 22.26± 2.52, p˂ 0.000). Standard magnification offers adequate resolution for embryologists to distinguish sperm with subtle morphological defects. In addition, ×400 magnification can lead to spermatozoa selection with high morphometric parameters and low DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, the findings highlight the critical role of embryologist training and experience as a practical approach to optimizing high-speed sperm selection with existing equipment.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Avendano, C., Franchi, A., Taylor, S., Morshedi, M., Bocca, S., & Oehninger, S. (2009). Fragmentation of DNA in morphologically normal human spermatozoa. Fertility and sterility, 91(4), 1077-1084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.015
Berkovitz, A., Dekel, Y., Goldstein, R., Bsoul, S., Machluf, Y., & Bercovich, D. (2018). The significance of human spermatozoa vacuoles can be elucidated by a novel procedure of array comparative genomic hybridization. Human Reproduction, 33(4), 563-571. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dey019
Boitrelle, F., Ferfouri, F., Petit, J. M., Segretain, D., Tourain, C., Bergere, M., Bailly, M., Vialard, F., Albert, M., & Selva, J. (2011). Large human sperm vacuoles observed in motile spermatozoa under high magnification: nuclear thumbprints linked to failure of chromatin condensation. Human Reproduction, 26(7), 1650-1658. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/der129
Cassuto, N. G., Bouret, D., Plouchart, J. M., Jellad, S., Vanderzwalmen, P., Balet, R., Larue, L., & Barak, Y. (2009). A new real-time morphology classification for human spermatozoa: a link for fertilization and improved embryo quality. Fertility and Sterility, 92(5), 1616-1625. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.088
Goswami, G., Sharma, M., Jugga, D., & Gouri, D. M. (2018). Can intracytoplasmic morphologically selected spermatozoa injection be used as first choice of treatment for severe male factor infertility patients? Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences, 11(1), 40-44. https://doi.org/10.4103/jhrs.JHRS_74_17
Huang, M. T., Kuo-Kuang Lee, R., Lu, C. H., Chen, Y. J., Li, S. H., & Hwu, Y. M. (2015). The efficiency of conventional microscopic selection is comparable to the hyaluronic acid binding method in selecting spermatozoa for male infertility patients. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 54(1), 48-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2014.11.006
Jakubik-Uljasz, J., Gill, K., Rosiak-Gill, A., & Piasecka, M. (2020). Relationship between sperm morphology and sperm DNA dispersion. Translational Andrology and Urology, 9(2), 405-415. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2020.01.31
Lukaszuk, K., Jakiel, G., Wocławek Potocka, I., Kiewisz, J., Olszewska, J., Sieg, W., Podolak, A., Pastuszek, E., & Wdowiak, A. (2022). IMSI-guidelines for sperm quality assessment. Diagnostics, 12(1), 192. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12010192
Mangoli, E., Khalili, M. A., Talebi, A. R., Kalantar, S. M., Montazeri, F., Agharahimi, A., & Woodward, B. J. (2020). Association between early embryo morphokinetics plus transcript levels of sperm apoptotic genes and clinical outcomes in IMSI and ICSI cycles of male factor patients. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 37(10), 2555-2567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01910-7
Pastuszek, E., Kiewisz, J., Skowronska, P., Liss, J., Lukaszuk, M., Bruszczynska, A., Jakiel, G., & Lukaszuk, K. (2017). An investigation of the potential effect of sperm nuclear vacuoles in human spermatozoa on DNA fragmentation using a neutral and alkaline Comet assay. Andrology, 5(2), 392-398. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12324
Racowsky C. (2023). Training and recognition of clinical embryologists as professionals-now, but what does the future hold? Fertility and Sterility Reports, 4(3), 254-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfre.2023.06.003
Shapiro, H., Brown, T. J., Chronis-Brown, P., Hamilton, G. S., Bentley, D. C., Kandel, R., & Gotlieb, A. I. (2023). Education of the clinical embryology laboratory professional: development of a novel program delivered in a laboratory medicine department. Fertility and Sterility Reports, 4(3), 262-269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfre.2023.03.001
Tandara, M., Bajic, A., Tandara, L., Bilic-Zulle, L., Sunj, M., Kozina, V., Goluza, T., & Jukic, M. (2014). Sperm DNA integrity testing: big halo is a good predictor of embryo quality and pregnancy after conventional IVF. Andrology, 2(5), 678-686. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00234.x
Ugajin, T., Terada, Y., Hasegawa, H., Nabeshima, H., Suzuki, K., & Yaegashi, N. (2010). The shape of the sperm midpiece in intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection relates sperm centrosomal function. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 27(2-3), 75-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-009-9371-1
Utsuno, H., Oka, K., Yamamoto, A., & Shiozawa, T. (2013). Evaluation of sperm head shape at high magnification revealed correlation of sperm DNA fragmentation with aberrant head ellipticity and angularity. Fertility and Sterility, 99(6), 1573-1580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.100
Villani, M. T., Morini, D., Spaggiari, G., Falbo, A. I., Melli, B., La Sala, G. B., Romeo, M., Simoni, M., Aguzzoli, L., & Santi, D. (2022). Are sperm parameters able to predict the success of assisted reproductive technology? A retrospective analysis of over 22,000 assisted reproductive technology cycles. Andrology, 10(2), 310-321. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13123
Wang, Y., Riordon, J., Kong, T., Xu, Y., Nguyen, B., Zhong, J., You, J. B., Lagunov, A., Hannam, T. G., Jarvi, K., & Sinton, D. (2019). Prediction of DNA integrity from morphological parameters using a single-sperm DNA fragmentation index assay. Advanced science, 6(15), 1900712. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.201900712
World Health Organization (2021). WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen (6th ed.), World Health Organization, https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/343208
Zhang, Z., Dai, C., Shan, G., Chen, X., Liu, H., Abdalla, K., Kuznyetsova, I., Moskovstev, S., Huang, X., Librach, C., Jarvi, K., & Sun, Y. (2021). Quantitative selection of single human sperm with high DNA integrity for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Fertility and Sterility, 116(5), 1308-1318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.06.016
Journal of Genetic Resources
Volume 12, Issue 1
Issue in Progress
2026
Pages 31-40

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics