MACS Sperm
Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) as a sperm selection technique improves ART (Assisted Reproductive Techniques) success rates in couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment.
What is MACS Sperm?
MACS is a sperm preparation technique that separates apoptotic sperm from non-apoptotic sperm based on the expression of phosphatidelserine (PS).
Phosphatidelserine (PS) is a marker of apoptotic or apoptosis-like manifestation sperm which have a DNA damage or sperm DNA fragmentation. DNA damage will lead sperm to have programmed cell death.
Effects of sperm DNA fragmentation
Sperm DNA fragmentation is generally caused by infection, inflammation, varicocele, wrong lifestyle with unhealthy eating habits, Environment changes, pollution, stress, & bad habits like smoking.
Sperm DNA fragmentation is correlated with poor embryo development, lower implantation rate.
Principle of MACS Sperm
Apoptotic sperm expresses phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer membrane, and this has an affinity for a protein called Annexin V.
The MACS Sperm technique uses a magnetic reagent that binds to the phosphatidylserine (PS) in the outer membrane. When sperm passes through column with magnetic stripe, the apoptotic sperm will be retained in the column, while the non-apoptotic sperm will be passed through it without being retained. This non-apoptotic sperm fraction is the one that is used in assisted reproduction treatments, increases fertilization capacity of the sperm.
Getting Started:
MACS Sperm
- Reduce apoptotic sperm
- Reduce sperm with DNA fragmentation
- Increase fertilization rates
- Improve the quality of the embryo
- Men with high DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI)
- Previous failed IVF/ICSI cycle
- Recurrent miscarriage (Recurrent abortion)
MACS is an efficient method to select functional sperms and improves pregnancy rates
