Characterization of Sperm Population Following Different Selection Procedures

The present study aims to determine which of the sperm selection techniques used in IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) laboratory leads to selection of the best/healthiest sperm population based on their morpho-functional parameters. Different procedures are currently used in our laboratory to select the sperm population that will be used to inseminate the oocytes: Density Gradient Centrifugation (DGC), DGC in combination with Magnetic Activated Sperm Sorting (MACS), and Microfluidic Sperm Sorting (MSS). The sperm cells selected by these techniques will be evaluated for specific morpho-functional features such as, motility, morphological abnormalities, and apoptotic status \[phosphatidylserine translocation (early stages of apoptosis)\] and DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) fragmentation as an indicator of stages of apoptosis.