Ultrasound Boosts Dormant Sperm Activity by 266%
Researchers have enhanced the movement of slow-moving sperm by as much as 266% through exposure to noninvasive 40-MHz ultrasound waves, prompting their motion. By examining the technique’s effects on individual sperm cells, the study paves the way for novel noninvasive fertility therapies.
For the first time, scientists at Monash University in Australia have enclosed individual sperm cells in microdroplets. They have shown that brief 20-second bursts of ultrasound can “revive” immotile sperm, causing 59% of the treated cells to become active.
Examining Semen Samples
After evaluating the 50 semen samples, categorized into rapid, slow, and immotile groups, the researchers observed an increase in motility from 64% before treatment to 90% afterward. However, it remains uncertain how long-lasting this enhanced activity is.
Associate Professor Luk Rombauts, Director of Clinical Research at Monash IVF, commented on the study by the Monash University Engineering team, stating, “This innovative approach utilizing ultrasound stimulation offers new hope for men with severe sperm quality issues. The method can enhance sperm movement by over 250%, providing potential treatment options for men whose sperm lack typical swimming motion. For these individuals, distinguishing between dead and immotile sperm is challenging.”
Sperm motility is crucial for enhancing the chances of successful fertilization, potentially reducing reliance on costly and invasive techniques like intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This procedure involves directly injecting a single sperm cell into an extracted egg, adding an extra, intricate, and expensive step to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. Improving motility could offer relief for men with oligospermia, characterized by low sperm count, by circumventing this process.
Dr. Frank Quinn’s Insights on Ultrasound-Enhanced Sperm Motility and Its Clinical Implications
Dr. Frank Quinn, Medical Director for IVF Australia, noted the significant enhancement in sperm motility due to ultrasound technology. He highlighted its potential utility for men with severe oligospermia and poor sperm motility, aiding embryologists in selecting sperm for injection into eggs during IVF treatment with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Additionally, it could be beneficial for couples requiring surgical sperm retrieval as part of their IVF treatment cycle. Dr. Quinn expressed concern about the study’s failure to address the duration of motility post-ultrasound application, emphasizing the necessity for sustained motility to fertilize eggs effectively during IVF treatment.
The study indicates that the high-frequency ultrasound treatment alleviates mitochondrial dysfunction, a condition that can result in sluggish and weakly powered sperm cells. While applying this technique in clinical settings remains a distant objective, the researchers intend to investigate how ultrasound affects cellular function in slow sperm and whether the improved motility in treated cells can be maintained.
According to Rombauts, “This new non-invasive method, which preserves sperm DNA integrity and viability, offers IVF specialists a more effective means of selecting healthy sperm. Enhancing sperm movement may also lead to improved rates of fertilization and embryo development, ultimately resulting in increased birth rates. However, further clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.”
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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