NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

MACS Sperm or MACS ART Annexin V system is a technique that improves the quality of sperm preparation for use in assisted reproductive technology. Normally, sperm ejaculated will contain both live sperm. Moves well and sperm that are dead or have poor mobility mixed together. Poor quality sperm secretes substances called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause negative effects on surrounding cells.

The MACS Sperm technique is a method for selecting healthy and perfect sperm. By relying on the principle Apoptotic Sperm The cell surface will change its properties, causing Phosphatidylserine (PS) to move out to the outer surface of the sperm cell, which can bind well with Annexin V.

Picture of Apoptotic Sperm. The cell surface changes properties,

causing Phosphatidylserine (PS) to move out to the outer surface of the sperm cell.

Binding of Annexin V reagent to Phosphatidylserine in Apoptotic Sperm

After that, sperm that has been bound to Annexin V is passed through a magnetic field. Dead sperm is trapped by the magnetic field and cannot pass through. Therefore, only healthy sperm (Viable Spermatozoa) will be left that will pass through the magnetic field and can be used in the ICSI process. The MACS Sperm technique takes only 30 minutes to complete, convenient, fast and effective.

By Assoc.Prof. Matchuporn Sukprasert