Improving male germ cells for clinical application in refractory infertility treatment

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18190
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University (2023); Shiga University of Medical Science (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Kishida Kazumi 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50582631)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 難治性不妊治療 / 体外受精 / 胚発生 / 精子 / ヒト

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, I investigated (1) the statistical significance of the relationship between the duration of treatment for patients who failed repeated ART, aiming to improve the treatment of refractory infertility. (2) I examined the acrosomal conditions of human ejaculated spermatozoa individual differences in the distribution of lectin staining among patients with infertility and examined their possible impact on the outcomes of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). The obtained results were listed below.
The results showed that the cumulative rate of IVF remained constant at 4～5 times, regardless of age. (2) It was shown that when the acrosome damage of human sperm is high, it affects the normal fertilization rate and the blastocyst attainment rate.
Therefore, further studies should investigate methods to improve the condition of sperm acrosomes, as this may contribute to the success of live births in patients undergoing repeated infertility treatments.

Free Research Field

Assisted Reproductive Technology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒト体外受精において、生児を獲得できる治療回数を明らかにし、治療の再考時期を提示することができた。この成果により、終わりの見えない不妊治療において、今後の方針に悩む患者さんの意志決定や治療方針の再考を共に考える医療側の支援の導入につながると考えられる。また、ヒト精子先体の機能の改善は胚盤胞移植および生児獲得率の向上に寄与すると示唆される。