A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has discovered a new method to select viable sperm and extend their viability in the laboratory during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Led by senior study author David Miller, the research team found that complex sugars called glycans from the oviduct can bind and store sperm, prolonging their lifespan and potentially improving IVF success rates.
The researchers focused on a glycan called suLeX, which they attached to culture dishes to test its ability to bind sperm for later introduction to eggs. This method resulted in significantly higher fertilization rates compared to control groups, especially when eggs were introduced at later time points. The study also found that IVF with suLeX droplets could reduce the number of multiple sperm fertilizing single eggs, a common issue in IVF procedures.
While the specific glycans binding human sperm have not yet been identified, the study paves the way for potential improvements in IVF success rates for both animals and humans. The findings have implications for industries such as dairy cattle breeding, where high-genetic-merit embryos are produced using IVF techniques.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, was supported by the National Institutes of Health and is a significant step towards enhancing the efficiency and success of IVF procedures. Further research is needed to validate and expand upon these initial findings.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
