Reduced oocyte activation and first cleavage rate after ICSI with spermatozoa from a sterile mouse chromosome mutant

BACKGROUND: Male mice, heterozygous for two semi-identical reciprocal translocations T(1;13)70H and T(1;13)1Wa are usually sterile. We have investigated this oligoasthenoteratozoospermic mouse model using ICSI. METHODS: B6D2F1 oocytes were injected with epididymal or testicular sperm from fertile or sterile translocation carriers and from chromosomally normal fertile controls. ICSI efficiency was determined by pronucleus formation and first cleavage rates. For arrested zygotes, cell cycle progression was evaluated by BrdU incorporation and incubation with okadaic acid. RESULTS: Epididymal sperm from infertile translocation carriers showed a slightly lower fertilization rate (70% vs. 92%, 95% and 95% for fertile translocation carriers and two groups of normal fertile control males, respectively) and a severely reduced cleavage rate (33% vs. 87%, 96% and 89% for the same control groups). However, the use of testicular sperm significantly improved the cleavage rate (62% vs. 83% for normal fertile controls). Development of arrested zygotes was delayed or blocked during S- and G2-phase. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas control testicular and epididymal sperm performed equally well, the use of testicular sperm from oligospermic T/T' males significantly increased first cleavage rates when compared to the low rates with epididymal sperm. Epididymal storage in oligospermics may negatively influence zygote division.