Developmental potential of elongating and elongated spermatids obtained after in-vitro maturation of isolated round spermatids

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2001

Authors

Cremades, N (Author) Other; sousa, m (Author) ICBAS; Bernabeu, R (Author) Other; barros, a (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Human Reproduction

Vol. 16

Pages: 1938-1944

ISSN: 0268-1161

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 45 Citations

Scopus - 55 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-TD3

DOI: 10.1093/humrep/16.9.1938

Abstract (EN): BACKGROUND: Round spermatid injections are associated with disappointing clinical outcomes, and although these cells have been shown to mature into late spermatids in vitro, the developmental potential of such gametes remains to be demonstrated. METHODS: Round spermatids were isolated from 12 testicle samples of patients with obstructive azoospermia, hypoplasia, complete maturation arrest, and incomplete Sertoli cell-only syndrome. They were cultured for 7 days at 32 degreesC, 5% CO2 in air, in microdrops of Vero cell-conditioned medium containing 10% synthetic serum substitute. RESULTS: From the 238 round spermatids cultured, 25.2% attained the elongating and 5.5% the elongated spermatid stage (3-4 days per step). Relatively higher maturation rates were found in cases with obstructive azoospermia, but differences were significant only for elongated spermatids (9.3%). No differences were found in maturation rates between cases with non-obstructive azoospermia (4.3% of elongated spermatids). Experimental microinjections with elongating and elongated spermatids revealed a low fertilization rate (40.9%) but a normal blastocyst formation rate (60%). CONCLUSIONS: Late spermatids resulting from in-vitro culture of round spermatids in conditioned medium, either in controls in cases with a spermiogenetic block, appeared able to successfully fertilize the human oocyte and elicit normal embryo development.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7