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Human Reproduction, Vol. 7, No. 5, pp. 671-676, 1992
© 1992 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

other

The use of cryopreserved aged human oocytes in a test of the fertilizing capacity of human spermatozoa

D.R. Morroll1,3, J.D. Critchlow2, P.L. Matson1,2 and B.A. Lieberman1,2

1Manchester Fertility Services, BUPA Hospital Russell Road, Manchester M16 8AJ, UK 2Regional IVF Unit, Saint Mary's Hospital, Whitworth Park Manchester M13 OJH, UK

Correspondence: 3To whom correspondence should be addressed

The use of cryopreserved aged human oocytes in a diagnostic test of sperm fertilizing ability was evaluated. Oocytes arising from assisted conception cycles and showing no signs of fertilization 48 h post-insemination were cryopreserved by one of two methods. An ultrarapid method using dimethyl sulphoxide gave poor post-thaw results, with only 5/69 (7.2%) oocytes surviving. Oocytes frozen by a slow method using propanediol as the cryoprotectant gave better survival rates (359/594; 60%). Fertilization by donor spermatozoa of these thawed oocytes was poor (15/63; 24%) when the zona pellucida was left intact. To improve this, the zona was enzymatically removed using pronase. These zona-free oocytes were then inseminated with spermatozoa from a fertile donor or from men previously exhibiting fertilization failure in an in-vitro fertilization treatment cycle. The fertilization rate in the patient group (41/91; 45%) was significantly lower than in the donor group (16/18; 89%) (P < 0.02). There was also a significant (P < 0.03) reduction in the median number of pronuclei per oocyte (2.9 versus 4.5). These results show that aged oocytes can be effectively cryopreserved to establish a bank for use in a test to identify men with impaired sperm fertilizing capacity.

Key words: cryopreservation/infertility diagnosis/male infertility/oocytes


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