Sperm plasma membrane damage prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a necessary condition for sperm nucleus decondensation.

In the present study we investigated the relevance of sperm immobilization prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the fertilization process. Using supravital staining of the spermatozoa with eosin and studying sperm decondensation with 2 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) in conditions imitating sperm handling during ICSI, we demonstrated that immobilization of the spermatozoon by squeezing its tail between the glass pipette and the bottom of the dish damages the sperm plasma membrane. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which is usually present in the drop with the spermatozoon to facilitate its handling, was found to impede the access of both eosin and DTT to the sperm nucleus. We conclude that (i) sperm immobilization prior to ICSI damages the sperm plasma membrane, that (ii) this damage is sufficient for thiol-reducing agents to gain access to the sperm nucleus, and finally that (iii) PVP possibly interferes with sperm nucleus decondensation.