OOPLASMIC ROUND SPERMATID NUCLEAR-INJECTION PROCEDURES AS AN EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT FOR NONOBSTRUCTIVE AZOOSPERMIA

Purpose: Our objective was to apply ooplasmic round spermatid nuclear injections for the treatment of nonobstructive azoospermia. Materials: Participants were nine azoospermic men who had previously undergone d iagnostic testicular biopsy. Spermatogenetic arrest was diagnosed at t he round spermatid stage (n = 6) or primary spermatocyte stage (n = 3) . A second (therapeutic) testicular biopsy was performed and round spe rmatid nuclei were recovered from all the participants. Results: Forty -nine mature oocytes were successfully injected with nuclei and then c ultured for 72 hr: Twenty-four embryos were transferred to nine women. No pregnancy was achieved. Conclusions: Round spermatids cart be reco vered from therapeutic testicular biopsy material of men negative for round spermatids in previous routine diagnostic testicular biopsy spec imens. Round spermatid nuclear injections may play a role in the treat ment of nonobstructive azoospermia.