Taketo Inoue1,2, Hironobu Sugimoto1, Kazutoshi Okubo3, Nobuyuki Emi1, Yukiko Matsushita1, Kenji Kojima1, Mitsuaki Nakamura1, Yoshiyuki Ono1. 1. Ono Ladies Clinic 538-3 Nishihonmachi 675-1375 Ono Hyogo Japan. 2. Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Health Sciences Kobe University 10-2, Tomogaoka 7-chome, Suma-ku 654-0142 Kobe Japan. 3. Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University 54 Shogoinkawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku 606-8507 Kyoto Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This case report describes two successful pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with testicular spermatozoa that were transported under refrigeration. METHODS: Two first-time couples consulted our clinic concerned about their primary infertility. No sperm were present in the semen samples from either of the husbands and they were referred to the urology department (UD) of a neighbouring hospital. At the UD, seminiferous tubules were obtained by testicular sperm extraction. The tissue samples were put in a centrifuge tube with phosphate-buffered saline at 6°C and placed with refrigerant in a cushioned styrofoam box that was then transported to our clinic. Immediately upon arrival at our clinic, testicular spermatozoa were extracted. On the same day, ovum pickup was performed and mature oocytes were extracted that were then inseminated by conventional ICSI. Fertilized eggs were cultured for 2 days, and then cleaved embryos were cryopreserved. In one case after 4 months and in the other case after 2 months of cryopreservation, the frozen-thawed embryos were transferred. RESULT: Both patients became pregnant and normal, healthy babies were born. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cases of obstructive azoospermia can be treated with ICSI by refrigerated transport of the seminiferous tubules, in cooperation with a UD, in a small single departmental obstetrics and gynecology clinic.
PURPOSE: This case report describes two successful pregnancies after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with testicular spermatozoa that were transported under refrigeration. METHODS: Two first-time couples consulted our clinic concerned about their primary infertility. No sperm were present in the semen samples from either of the husbands and they were referred to the urology department (UD) of a neighbouring hospital. At the UD, seminiferous tubules were obtained by testicular sperm extraction. The tissue samples were put in a centrifuge tube with phosphate-buffered saline at 6°C and placed with refrigerant in a cushioned styrofoam box that was then transported to our clinic. Immediately upon arrival at our clinic, testicular spermatozoa were extracted. On the same day, ovum pickup was performed and mature oocytes were extracted that were then inseminated by conventional ICSI. Fertilized eggs were cultured for 2 days, and then cleaved embryos were cryopreserved. In one case after 4 months and in the other case after 2 months of cryopreservation, the frozen-thawed embryos were transferred. RESULT: Both patients became pregnant and normal, healthy babies were born. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cases of obstructive azoospermia can be treated with ICSI by refrigerated transport of the seminiferous tubules, in cooperation with a UD, in a small single departmental obstetrics and gynecology clinic.