Effect of semen quality on the embryo development.

To investigate the influences of sperm quality on the zygotes and embryos development, as the role of the paternal factor in early human embryogenesis is gaining more attention because of the application of techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the treatment of men infertility. 136 infertility couples with men factors (Group I ) were included from May 2002 to January 2001. One hundred and seventy-two infertility couples with tube factors (Group II) served as controls. The sperm parameters, gemmates and embryos quality, implantation rate and pregnant rate in both groups were analyzed. It was found that there was no significant differences in the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate and number of embryos transferred between two groups. Sperm concentration, percentage of motile sperm and percentage of sperm with normal morphology were significantly lower in group I than in group II (P < 0.01). The proportion of good quality zygotes and good quality embryos were significantly lower in the male infertility group than in the tubal disease group (P < 0.05). Implantation rate and pregnancy rate were similar in two groups. It was concluded that spermatozoa is involved in the embryo quality, even in the early stages of development, which limited the treatment potency of IVF procedure.