• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 1998

It is well known that the clinical test for responsibility of accurate fertilization capacity in male partners is very important to diagnose and treat the infertility. However, it has been reported that the traditional semen analysis cannot accurately predict fertilization and pregnancy potential. The present study was performed to evaluate the acrosomal reaction to ionophore challenge (ARIC) test as a prognostic indicator for fertilization of sperm and oocyte in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) program. From March 1996 to Februry 1997, 30 couples undergoing IVF program were allocated to this study group. All female partners in the study group were 35 years old or less and their serum level of basal follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol $(E_2)$ were normal. All the male partners have normal parameters of semen analysis. The ARIC tests were performed on the day of ovum pick up and in vitro insemination in all the male partners. The controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) using luteal long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist was used in all couples for IVF-ET. The acrosomal reaction with $10{\mu}l$ of 10% DMSO was induced spontaneously in $10.1{\pm}9.8%$, and acrosomal reaction with calcium ionophore A 23187 was induced in $27.4{\pm}18.1%$, and the ARIC value was $17.4{\pm}16.2%$. There were no significant correlation between the ARIC value and the fertilization rate ($r^2$=0.044, p=0.268). There were also no significant correlation between the ARIC value and the percentage of the grade I, II embryos ($r^2$=0.046, p=0.261). On the basis of above results, it was suggested that ARIC test might not be a useful prognostic indicator for fertilization in IVF-ET in male partners with normal parameters of conventional semen analysis. We guessed that IVF-ET could be performed to the patients primarily without universal appilcation of ARIC test to all male partenrs, and if fertilization failure occurs, the micro assisted fertilization (MAF) such as intracytoplsmic sperm injection (ICSI) might be used as an alternative mode of treatment with acceptable success rate.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 1995

This study was designed to determine the relationship between sperm acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge(ARIC) and hamster ovum sperm penetration assay(SPA) as assessment of fertilizing capacity of male. ARIC test and SPA were performed in 23 fertile and 19 subfertile men. The results were as follows; Sperm concentration was significantly higher in fertile group compared with subfertile group: $114.6{\pm}64.40$ vs $61.3{\pm}46.50{\times}10^6/ml$. However, there were no significantly differences in seminal volume, motility and motility index, respectively. There was a significantly correlation between spontaneous and induced AR in fertile and subfertile group, respectively. ARIC value was significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $12.0{\pm}5.57%$ vs $2.6{\pm}4.96%$. Both Penetration rate(PR) and Penetration index(PI) were significantly higher in fertile group, compared with subfertile group: $97.4{\pm}7.40%$ vs $64.9{\pm}36$. 20% and $5.4{\pm}2.88$ vs $1.5{\pm}1.47$, respectively. The Positive predictive value(PPV), Negative predictive value(NPV), sensitivity and specificity of ARIC test (cut-off: 8.5) and SPA(PI cut-off : 3.0) in predicting fertility were 95.0%, 81.8%, 82.6%, 94.7% and 95.2%, 85.7%, 87.0% and 94.7%, respectively. There was no significantly difference in predicting fertility between ARIC test and SPA. In conclusion, ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing capacity comparable to that of the hamster ovum sperm penetration assay. Therefore, ARIC test may be a simple and cost-effective addition to existing semenology instead of SPA.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2002

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the interrelationship and clinical usefulness of sperm morphology by strict criteria (SM), acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge test (ARIC) and sperm penetration assay (SPA) using zona-free hamster ova as prognostic factors in in vitro fertilization. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were provided by 83 patients undergoing IVF. We first evaluated the differences between normal fertilization group and poor fertilization group on three andrologic tests. Secondly, we analyzed the relationship between the three andrologic tests and in vitro fertilization on IVF settings. Finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of the three andrologic tests as the prognostic indicators for fertilizing ability. Results: The fertilization rate of all men in the poor fertilization group was less than 30%; but there was no evidence that this poor fertilization was due to oocyte defects. The results of three andrologic tests were significatly higher in normal fertilization group. Fertilization rate (%) in vitro was highly correlated (p<0.001) with % normal sperm by SM, ARIC value (%), and SPA result. By using Receiver-Operator-Characteristic curve (ROC), we evaluated the effectiveness of these three tests. The sensitivity and specificity of SM, ARIC test and SPA in predicting fertilization potential in IVF setting were 76% and 75%, 84% and 90%, and 76% and 95%, respectively. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the three andrologic tests can be reliable tools as prognostic factors of sperm fertilizing ability. Among these test, ARIC test and SPA gave more accurate information on fertilizing capacity. ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing ability comparable to that of SPA that appears to be a simple and cost-effective addition to current andrology laboratory. Combined application of these three tests may give more information on predicting sperm fertilizing capacity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 1998.07a
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• pp.45-47
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• 1998

STZ를 주사한 후 혈액내 인슐린 및 포도당 농도는 당뇨병 유발에 의해 반비레적인 관계를 보였다. 대조군의 부정소두와 체내 정자의 농도 그리고 부정소미내 정자의 수는 당뇨병 유발에 의한 혈당량의 변화에 민감하게 감소하였다. 자발적 첨체반응율은 대조군의 부정소미와 수정관내 두부위간 유의한 차이로 증가하였다. 3일군과 14일군의 부정소미내 정자의 자발적 첨체반응율은 대조군에 비해 유의하게 증가하였다. ARIC test 결과 대조군, 3일군, 그리고 14일군에서 약 12%의 차이를 보였다. 결과저긍로 당뇨병 유발에 의해 부정소미내 정자수의 감소와 자발적 첨체반응율이 상대적으로 높아지나 ARIC test의 결과에서 부정소미내 정자는 수정능력이 있는 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 당뇨병은 정자의 수적인 감소를 유발하며 부정소내 기능의 이상을 초래하여 정자성숙을 방해하여 자발적 첨체반응을 증가시킴으로서 개체의 수정율 감소를 초래할 수 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 1999

Some of the information concerning sexual function in the male diabetes has been focused upon the problems of endocrine or semen parameters. However, the characteristics of acrosome reaction and spermatozoa concentration at the epididymis and vas deferens have scarcely been studied, and the causes of the infertility has not been critically identified. So, we designed to inspect the spermatozoa concentration and the characteristics of acrosome reaction at epididymis and vas deferens of diabetic Wistar rat induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 70 mg/kg, ip). Experimental animal was sacrificed at 3 days and 14 days after the STZ injection. In the diabetes-induced rat, the levels of insulin and glucose had a pattern of inverse proportion. The spermatozoa concentrations in caput and corpus epididymis were significantly decreased in all diabetic condition. In cauda epididymis, however, there was significant decrease in sperm concentration at 14 days onward. In diabetic rat, the spontaneous reaction rate of spermatozoa of cauda and vas deferens were significantly higher than the control group. The ARIC (acrosome reaction to ionophore challenge) value of caudal sperm was 28.7 at control, 22.1 at 3 days, and 8.3 at 14 days. In the present study the spermatozoa concentration was decreased and the spontaneous reaction rate was increased by diabetes. In ARIC-test, it is revealed that the fertility of spermatozoa of 14 days group was lower than control or 3 days group. Diabetes mellitus may be provoke the decreased fertilization rate and subsequent infertility and subsequent infertility.