| Summary: | Thesis (MScMedSc (Obstetrics and Gynaecology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. === CHAPTER 1 presents comprehensive background information regarding all aspects
addressed in this thesis. Special attention was given to literature on paternal influences
on embryonic development, the role of sperm RNA, sperm chromatin and sperm
functional aspects i.e. morphology and acrosomal status and size. The experimental
design and all relevant methods used during the study as well as the material that were
used are presented in CHAPTER 2. The results of the different techniques and
evaluations are provided in CHAPTER 3. It was found that 70% of the embryos that
showed no developmental potential were Y-chromosome bearing embryos. The sperm
selection process for ICSI based on the approach of choosing the “best looking“
spermatozoon in the ejaculate seem to provide cells that can be classified as normal
based on the length width ratio set by the WHO for normal cells. The chromatin
packaging quality of the sperm correlated significantly and negatively with the
percentage normal cells in the ejaculates. CHAPTER 4 comprises of a general
discussion of the results and short summary of the major findings during the project.
The discussion section focused on the paternal influence on the embryonic
development and provided a suggestion for future research that can possibly lead to
the use of X-chromosome bearing sperm in case of severe male factor cases.
CHAPTER 5 contains the bibliographical information of the study.
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