Objective: To determine whether laser-assisted immobilization of sperm damages sperm DNA.
Methods: Twenty-three semen samples were selected from an IVF program. Then normal spermatozoa were obtained by swimming-up method and immobilized with the tail by 0.45 ms pulse laser. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) were used to detect sperm DNA damage.
Results: There was no significant difference either before and after laser treatment in the percentage of TUNEL-positive spermatozoa ([1.32 +/- 0.61]% vs [1.41 +/- 0.51]%, P > 0.05) or in SCGE ([1.59 +/- 0.70]% vs [1.83 +/- 0.68]%, P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Laser-assisted sperm immobilization may cause no direct damage to the sperm DNA.