COMPUTER IMAGE SPERM SELECTION AS A NOVEL-APPROACH TO SUBZONAL INSEMINATION IN THE HUMAN

Utilizing real-time computer image analysis, individual spermatozoa we re selected using microaspiration, Selection criteria were based on po tential hyperactivation motility characteristics; the amplitude of lat eral head displacement >7.5 mu m, curvilinear velocity >70 mu m/s and linearity of <30%. For this pilot study, 16 patients (eight in each gr oup) were recruited, Using subzonal insemination (SUZI), up to five (m ean = 4.4 +/- 0.3) spermatozoa selected using computer-image sperm sel ection (CISS) were microinjected, or up to 15 (mean = 12.8 +/- 1.3 SD) unselected spermatozoa, In the group which utilized CISS, 28 out of 4 9 (57%) oocytes were fertilized compared with 13 out of 52 (25%) utili zing conventional SUZI (P < 0.04); polyspermy was 20% (n = 10) and 2% (n = 1) respectively, CISS with SUZI showed increased efficiency in ac hieving fertilization and is a novel approach to studying individual s perm function in a sperm egg bioassay where gamete ratios are close to unity.