Successful delivery following intracytoplasmic sperm injection with calcium ionophore A23187 oocyte activation in a partially globozoospermic patient.

PURPOSE

To describe a successful pregnancy outcome following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with assisted oocyte activation (AOA) in a case of partial globozoospermia.

METHODS

AOA was accomplished with calcium ionophore A23187. Sperm morphology was observed via light, fluorescent and electron microscopy following a Diff-Quik stain and fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled peanut agglutinin (FITC-PNA) staining. An activation ability test was employed using a mouse oocyte exposed to strontium chloride.

RESULTS

Via light microscopy, it was found that a large number of sperm possessed deficient acrosomes and a sharply rounded head; however, we observed both normal and the aforementioned abnormal sperm via FITC-PNA staining of a semen specimen. Mouse oocyte activation was 87.5 % via natural activation without AOA. With AOA after ICSI, 100 % oocyte activation was observed. Five oocytes were retrieved, and AOA with A23187 after ICSI resulted in a high fertilization rate (4 of 5, 80 %). Two embryos developed and the patient subsequently delivered a healthy female infant without any congenital abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a successful pregnancy outcome using an early stage embryo, which developed following ICSI using sperm from a partially globozoospermic patient who possessed temporary potential oocyte activation.