P-040 The Role of ACE2 and DNA fragmentation index on covid-19 post infected, healthy and infertile men

Abstract

Abstract Study question to investigate the relationship between ACE2 and DNA fragmentation index and their impact on men’s reproductive system in covid-19 post-infected patients. Summary answer the drastic effect of covid-19 on the male reproductive system might be due to elevated DFI and ACE2 levels. What is known already In the last two years, many studies had been devoted to uncovering the depraved impact of covid-19 by measuring ACE2 concentrations or sperm DNA fragmentation but no study was applied to measure both parameters, this study performed on both parameters to figure out the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) with seminal fluid parameters and DNA fragmentation index in covid-19 post infected men and infertile patient in comparison to healthy fertile men. Study design, size, duration This prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2021 to June 2022. one hundred and nine men who participated in this study. Participants/materials, setting, methods The participants were divided into four groups: post-infected men with Covid-19 who recovered from Covid-19 infection with a recovery interval of no more than three months from the time of symptoms onset and all were fertile married men, healthy fertile men who haven't been infected with Covid-19 in the last three months obtain normal seminal fluid parameters as control, The third group is composed of oligospermia, while the fourth group is constituted of azoospermia volunteers Main results and the role of chance In this study, the result showed that the seminal fluid parameters for post-infected men with covid-19; were demotion in sperm concentration, total count, motility, and morphology with a p-value < 0.001 when compared with healthy men. DNA fragmentation in post-infected men was 4 times higher than in non-infected and it was found that post-infected men had 10 times more ACE2 concentrations in comparison with healthy men. The study showed that in oligospermia and azoospermia volunteers own a high ACE2 level compared to healthy volunteers and that the oligospermia subjects have a significantly high sperm DNA fragmentation index. In conclusion, the drastic effect of covid-19 on the male reproductive system might be due to elevated DNA fragmentation and ACE2 levels, and there is a statistically significant positive correlation between the DNA fragmentation index and ACE2 levels. Limitations, reasons for caution number of post-infected men with covid-19 Wider implications of the findings 1- A positive relationship exists between DNA fragmentation index percentage (DFI) and angiotensin-converting enzyme level (ACE 2). 2- Covid-19 infection alters sperm parameters such as concentrations, total sperm count, motility, and morphology. 3- The percentage of DNA fragmentation rose significantly after covid-19 infection. Trial registration number self funding