The effects of calcium ionophore application on globozoospermic cases

Total fertilization failure after ICSI may be explained by different factors related to oocyte or semen characteristics. The most important semen factors are total immotile or round-headed spermatozoa called globozoospermia. Round-headed spermatozoa lack the acrosomal membrane and acrosin contents. Therefore they not only lack the capacity of penetrate oocytes but also are deficient in their oocyte-activating capacity.In this study, 37 patients of globozoospermia with a previous low fertilization rate, whose wife is under the age of 38 and has at least 5 mature oocytes. On their second attempt, all the MII oocytes were treated with ICSI , followed by calcium ionophore oocyte activation. Therefore oocyte activation can be possible with akrosom free globozoospermia. The fertilization control has been made 20 hours after ICSI by pronukleus check.It has been observed during the evaluation carried out that fertilization rate of the application of Ca++ ionophore applied with the purpose of oocyte activation to the patients who has lower fertilization rate or total fertilization in previous studies, has been increased expressively. Also it has been observed that cleavage rates and gestation rates per incidence depending on fertilization rates have been increased expressively.Even thought it may be said that the fertilization of globozoospermia incidences of Ca++ ionophore is effective on gestation rates per incidence and cleavage, more extensive studies must be done in order to gain insight about live birth rates.