STUDY QUESTION Is a microfluidic sperm sorter (MSS) able to select higher quality sperm compared to conventional methods? SUMMARY ANSWER The MSS selects sperm with improved parameters, lower DNA fragmentation, and higher fertilizing potential. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY To date, the few studies that have compared microfluidics sperm selection with conventional methods have used heterogeneous study population and have lacked molecular investigations. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The efficiency of a newly designed MSS in isolating high-quality sperm was compared to the density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) and swim-up (SU) methods, using 100 semen samples in two groups, during 2023–2024. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Semen specimens from 50 normozoospermic and 50 non-normozoospermic men were sorted using MSS, DGC, and SU methods to compare parameters related to the quality and fertilizing potential of sperm. The fertilizing potential of sperm was determined by measurement of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and post-acrosomal sheath WW domain-binding protein (PAWP) expression using flow cytometry, and the chromatin dispersion test was used to assess sperm DNA damage. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In both normozoospermic and non-normozoospermic groups, the MSS-selected sperm with the highest progressive motility, PLCζ positive expression and PLCζ and PAWP fluorescence intensity the lowest non-progressive motility, and minimal DNA fragmentation, compared to sperm selected by DGC and SU methods (P < 0.05). LIMITATION, REASONS FOR CAUTION The major limitations of our study were the low yield of sperm in the MSS chips and intentional exclusion of severe male factor infertility to yield a sufficient sperm count for molecular experiments; thus testing with severe oligozoospermic semen and samples with low count and motility is still required. In addition, due to ethical considerations, at present, it was impossible to use the sperm achieved from MSS in the clinic to assess the fertilization rate and further outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our research presents new evidence that microfluidic sperm sorting may result in the selection of high-quality sperm from raw semen. This novel technology might be a key to improving clinical outcomes of assisted reproduction in infertile patients. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study is funded by the Iran University of Medical Sciences and no competing interest exists. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.

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微流控精子分选选择具有较高受精潜力的优质精子亚群

研究问题 与传统方法相比，微流控精子分选机 (MSS) 是否能够选择更高质量的精子？摘要答案 MSS 选择具有改进参数、较低 DNA 碎片和较高受精潜力的精子。已知的情况迄今为止，将微流体精子选择与传统方法进行比较的少数研究使用了异质研究群体，并且缺乏分子研究。研究设计、规模、持续时间 在 2023 年期间，使用两组 100 份精液样本，将新设计的 MSS 分离高质量精子的效率与密度梯度离心 (DGC) 和游上 (SU) 方法进行比较。 2024 年。参与者/材料、环境、方法 使用 MSS、DGC 和 SU 方法对 50 名正常精子症和 50 名非正常精子症男性的精液样本进行分类，以比较与精子质量和受精潜力相关的参数。通过流式细胞术测量磷脂酶C zeta（PLCζ）和顶体鞘后WW结构域结合蛋白（PAWP）表达来确定精子的受精潜力，并使用染色质分散试验评估精子DNA损伤。主要结果和机会的作用 在正常精子组和非正常精子组中，与对照组相比，MSS 选择的精子具有最高的前向运动性、PLC z 阳性表达以及 PLC z 和 PAWP 荧光强度最低的非前向运动性和最小的 DNA 碎片。通过DGC和SU方法选择的精子(P＜0.05)。局限性、谨慎原因 我们研究的主要局限性是 MSS 芯片中精子的产量低，并且故意排除严重的男性不育因素，以产生足够的精子数量进行分子实验；因此，仍然需要对严重少精子症的精液和低计数和低活力的样本进行检测。此外，出于伦理考虑，目前尚无法在临床上使用MSS获得的精子来评估受精率和进一步的结果。研究结果的更广泛意义我们的研究提供了新的证据，表明微流体精子分选可能导致从原始精液中选择出高质量的精子。这项新技术可能是改善不孕患者辅助生殖临床结果的关键。研究资助/竞争利益 该研究由伊朗医科大学资助，不存在竞争利益。试用注册号 不适用。