IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION AND EMBRYONIC-DEVELOPMENT OF OOCYTES FERTILIZED BY SPERM TREATED WITH 2-DEOXYADENOSINE

Objective-To test the effect in an assisted pregnancy program of an agent known to enhance sperm motility and oocyte penetration ability. Design-Prospective with internal control. Setting-Hospital clinic. Patients and Interventions-Forty-two oocytes obtained from women undergoing IVF were inseminated with their husband's sperm washed, incubated, and capacitated in Earle's medium supplemented with 1 mM, 2.5 mM, or 5 mM 2-deoxyadenosine (2-DXA). The outcome of insemination was compared with those of 234 control oocytes from the same women that were inseminated with husband's sperm washed in 2-DXA-free medium. 15, 14, and 13 oocytes were inseminated with sperm washed in 1 mM, 2.5 mM, and 5 mM 2-DXA, respectively. Results-Fertilization rates in the respective groups were 93%, 85.7%, and 85.5%. These were higher than the 70.1% fertilization rate in the control group, but only statistically higher (P < .002) in the 1 mM 2-DXA group. Embryonic development in all three 2-DXA groups was comparable to the controls. Conclusion-It is suggested that the value of sperm motility enhancing agents requires further evaluation in assisted pregnancy programs.