Work

Correlation of human sperm intracellular pH in non-normozoospermic men with fertilization rates in assisted reproduction procedures

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Purpose Intracellular pH (pH i ) in sperm cells plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, including motility, capacitation, and fertilization. While previous studies have shown a positive correlation between sperm pH i and fertilization success in normozoospermic patients undergoing fertility treatments, its role in non-normozoospermic individuals is unclear. Methods This study investigates the relationship between sperm pH i and fertilization outcomes in patients undergoing assisted reproduction techniques: in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Qualitative sperm pH i evaluation was performed using time-lapse flow cytometry, and both basal pH i and pH i response capacity (delta pH i ) were assessed in sperm samples from patients diagnosed with teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, or hypoteratozoospermia. Results Our results revealed significant differences in pH i values among diagnostic groups and specific correlation patterns according to the ART used. In ICSI cycles, higher basal pHi values and reduced delta pH i were significantly associated with higher fertilization rates in patients with teratozoospermia, while in IVF, the correlations were more variable. Conclusions These findings suggest that measuring sperm pH i could potentially serve as a valuable tool for predicting fertilization success and guiding treatment decisions during assisted reproduction techniques (ART), contributing to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying male infertility.

Source: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics

DOI: 10.1007/s10815-025-03736-7