Better Fertilization 1

Better Fertilization

Parker T Stapley

Salt Lake Community College

Biology 1610

Bill Speer

03/27/2023
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Thesis

The trials of pregnancy and childbirth is an ever growing field of study that is a concern for the

world at large. This study is aimed to better understand the effects of DNA damage during the

stages of pregnancy, through the use of assisted reproductive treatments (ART), by eliminating

masking elements like female factors (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

Keywords: assisted reproductive treatments (ART), control donor (CD), active donor

(AD)
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Better Fertilization

Method: Donor-Donor vs Donor-Infertile

Participants

The test was done to find out the possibility of DNA damage having an effect on

developing embryos when assisted reproductive treatments are used. The control group consisted

of both healthy female and male donors who were of a healthy age, weight and so on. The active

group oocytes were their own with male donors (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022). I’ll refer to the

control group as CD for control donor, and AD for active donor.

Assessments and Measures

The donated sperm was tested over many markers for viability and levels of DNA

damage. This included but not limited to: sperm count and concentration, progressive mobility

and non progressive mobility, and any abnormalities such as deformed heads or deformed

flagellum (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

What was the same and what was different

This experiment had many similarities between the CD and the AD groups. The sperm

for both groups had similar levels in DNA damage, alkaline levels and other relevant factors. No

great statistical problems were present with the sperm (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022). This was to

make sure the male side was consistent while testing the donated oocytes in the CD group and

the patient oocytes in the AD group.

This is not to say there were no differences in the sperm used, only that the sperm for

both groups were similar in variety. Both groups had sperm with low DNA damage to high DNA

damage (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

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What was different. The similarities start to differ at the age of the women involved in

the tests. The women in the CD group were slightly older than in the AD group. The CD group

also had oocytes from younger women than the AD group. These differences should not interfere

with the results as both groups were below the age of concern for potential age interference

(Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

What was different and significant. The key differences that were statistically

significant were in two areas. Fertilization rates and the development to the blastocyst stage. The

amount of fertilization from oocyte to zygote was much lower in the CD group that had sperm

with high levels of DNA damage. This was not seen in the AD group. The CD group had higher

rates of fertilization than the AD group (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

The time it took for the zygotes to develop in the CD group took long when DNA

damage was present. This was likely due to zygote repairing the DNA damage before moving

towards the blastocyst stage. Blastocyst rates in the CD were higher than in the AD group

(Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

Live birth rates in the CD group were higher than in the AD group (Ribas-Maynou et al,

2022).

Why is this being tested anyway? This experiment is important because there are

conflicting results on similar experiments on whether DNA breakage has an effect on developing

embryos (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022). Because there is conflicting information, there are different

procedures for different clinics on how to handle sperm with known DNA breakage. This

experiment is the first of its kind to use double donors to, as much as possible, account for

masking elements like female infertility. This was done by healthy oocytes being donated for this

experiment for the CD group and the patient's own oocytes being used for the AD group. The
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donated sperm was similar for both groups, thereby eliminating the male factors in this

experiment (Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

What this could lead to. Thanks to this experiment being done, we can hope to see more

uniformal procedures at ART clinic centers. The understanding of DNA breakage and its effects

on pregnancy could lead to new procedures, and the elimination of others.

Results

The hypothesis that DNA damage has an effect on pregnancy seems credible after this test was

completed. It had an effect on fertilization rates, and on the development stage of blastocyst

which took longer to achieve with DNA damage. This was likely due to the developing egg

being able to repair damaged DNA while going through the various stages of development

(Ribas-Maynou et al, 2022).

Outcome for CD

The control group, which is the donor-donor group, had both higher rates of fertilization

and achieved the blastocyst stage at greater rates. Live birth rates were also higher.

Outcome for AD

The control group, which is the donor-infertile group, had these lower rates of

fertilization and achieved the blastocyst stage less frequent rates. Live birth rates were

comparatively lower.

Discussion

I believe that this experiment is of great value. The knowledge that higher levels of DNA

damage do in fact have an adverse effect on fertilization even in an assisted reproductive

treatments clinic is important for future couples. Knowing that having DNA damage will
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decrease fertilization rates, take longer to achieve the blastocyst stage and have a lower chance at

live birth rate is all important factors seeking parents will want to consider as they try for a child.
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References

Ribas-Maynou J, Novo S, Torres M, Salas-Huetos A, Rovira S, Antich M, Yeste M. 2022.

Sperm DNA integrity does play a crucial role for embryo development after ICSI,
notably when good-quality oocytes from young donors are used. Biological Research
55:41