Cumulus matrix selection leads to isolation of spermatozoa with better motility, morphology, and lower DNA fragmentation

Maria Handzhiyska, Rumiana Ganeva, Dimitar Parvanov, Margarita Ruseva, Petar Eftimov, Vilyana Georgieva, Denitsa Velikova and Georgi Stamenov

Department of Research, Nadezhda Women’s Health Hospital, Sofi, Bulgaria; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, SU St. Climent Ohridski, Sofi, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology, Nadezhda Women’s Health Hospital, Sofi, Bulgaria; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nadezhda Women’s Health Hospital, Sofi, Bulgaria

Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the motility, morphology, and levels of DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa subjected to conventional swim-up or cumulus matrix (CM) sperm selection. Semen samples were collected from 60 normozoospermic men at a private hospital between December 2021 and March 2022. After liquefaction, semen samples were separated into two portions – one part was subjected to conventional swim-up preparation, and the remaining spermatozoa were subjected to CM selection. The CM was obtained by mechanical isolation from healthy donor oocytes. Semen analysis and evaluation of sperm were performed according to the WHO 6th Edition Laboratory Manual and Kruger’s strict criteria, respectively. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF, %) of the two preparations was evaluated using the Halosperm G2 detection Kit (Halotech, Madrid, Spain). Wilcoxon rank-sum test
was used to compare the characteristics of spermatozoa obtained by the two preparations. Spermatozoa selected by CM showed signifiantly better rapidly progressive motility (43.5% vs 30.6%, respectively, P < 0.001), a higher percentage of morphologically normal forms (14.0% vs 9.0%, respectively, P < 0.05), and lower levels of SDF (26.0% vs 45.0%, P < 0.05)  compared to those prepared by conventional swim-up. Moreover, the incidence of multiple sperm defects was considerably lower in the samples that underwent CM selection compared to those that did not (30.0% vs 49.0%, respectively, P < 0.05).The selection by CM signifiantly increases sperm motility and reduces morphologically abnormal spermatozoa and DNA  ragmentation rates compared to the conventional swim-up preparation. The application of this selection technique may increase the chances of successful IVF outcomes.

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Reproduction & Fertility – https://doi.org/10.1530/RAF-23-0052

Received 24 July 2023, Accepted 25 April 2024, Available online 25 April 2024, Version of Record published 10 June 2024