New Method for Cryoprotectant-Free Freezing of Human Oligoasthenoteratozoospremic Spermatozoa with High-Molecular Polymer

Data about cryoprotectant-free cryopreservation of human ICSI spermatozoa are limited. The aim of this investigation was to compare two technologies for cryopreservation of spermatozoa from men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: standard conventional freezing with 5% glycerol (freezing in glycerol) and cryoprotectant-free freezing with 5% high-molecular-weight (360 kDa) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) (PVP-freezing). Capillaries with spermatozoa were cooled in vapor and then plunginged into liquid nitrogen. Head-, midpiece- and tail-abnormality of spermatozoa, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and DNA fragmentation rates after cryopreservation were evaluated. After warming of spermatozoa, fertilization of oocytes (ICSI) was performed. It was detected the lower rate of morphological abnormalities of PVP-frozen spermatozoa in comparison with cells frozen with glycerol (34.6 ± 4.1% vs. 20.7 ± 4.7%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Quality of cells with high MMP after warming in spermatozoa frozen with glycerol was lower than in PVP-frozen spermatozoa (34.7 ± 4.2 vs. 54.5 ± 4.2%, respectively) (P < 0.05). It was established that the DNA fragmentation rate in PVP-frozen spermatozoa was significantly lower in comparison with spermatozoa frozen with glycerol (23.1 ± 2.5% vs. 38.8 ± 3.0%, respectively) (P < 0.05). After fertilization (ICSI) of oocytes, it was established that cleavage and blastulation rates were higher in oocytes after fertilization with PVP-frozen spermatozoa than with spermatozoa frozen with glycerol. Fertilization-, development to 8-blastomeres-, and blastocyst-rates were for PVP-frozen and spermatozoa frozen with glycerol, respectively: 94.4 ± 7.8 vs. 82.2 ± 6.2% (P > 0.1 with tendency to increasing), 90.0 ± 4.6 vs. 69.5 ± 5.1% (P < 0.05), and 45.4 ± 4.1% vs. 30.9 ± 3.3% (P < 0.05). It was concluded that permeable cryoprotectant-free freezing with 5% high-molecular-weight (360 kDa) polyvinylpyrrolidone can be applied successfully for cryopreservation of human oligoasthenoteratozoospremic spermatozoa.