Evaluation of the Predictive Value of Semen Parameters in Sperm Fertility Potential Using Intracellular Calcium Increase in Response to Progesterone

Background: While traditional semen parameters are of significant clinical value, total fertilization failure in IVF cycles is not uncommon. Sperm function testing such as; Hamster egg penetration test has severed limitations as a clinical test. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of semen parameters by using of intracellular calcium [Ca2+]I increase in response to progesterone.
Materials and Methods: The [Ca2+]i response to progesterone was measured in spermatozoa of 86 patients referring to the Assisted Conception Unit for semen analysis. The patients were divided into 3 groups; according to their semen parameters and measured intracellular [Ca2+]i increasing in response to progesterone .
Results:There was no significant correlation between each individual semen parameter and [Ca2+]i elevation in response to the progesterone, but most of the patients in each group had [Ca2+]i increasing as expected based on sperm parameters. However, there were cases in groups 1 and 2 (Normal and IVF) that demonstrated [Ca2+]i increases which were poor or lower than expected. Out of the 22 patients in the normal category, 8 cases had poor response to [Ca2+]I increase and out of the 47 patients in the IVF group, 9 patients were as well. In addition we measured [Ca2+]I increases in 6 fertile donor samples for comparison purposes.
Conclusion: [Ca2+]i increase in response to progesterone is related to predicting value of sperm parameters in most cases. However, the response of sperm to progesterone could be different in some cases that are expected in normal or IVF category based on our semen analysis criteria. We suggest that the [Ca2+]i measurements may perfect the sperm fertility potential.