Seminal cell-free DNA and sperm characteristic's: An added biomarker for male infertility investigation.

Abstract

Cell-free DNA (Cf-DNA) fragments may constitute an easy-to-measure molecular tool for guiding the choice of care provided to infertile couples who benefit assisted reproductive technology (ART) programmes. Data on Cf-DNA levels in the seminal plasma of men with sperm alterations are scarce. The objective of the present study was to quantify the presence of Cf-DNA in semen by using a quantitative real-time PCR. We compared men with abnormal sperm characteristics (n=21) with normospermic controls (n=21). The PCR assay evidenced significantly higher mean Cf-DNA levels in patients with sperm abnormalities than in controls (2.09 versus 1.18µg/ml, respectively; p=.0003). The Cf-DNA levels were notably higher in men with azoospermia (3.65µg/ml, versus 1.34µg/ml in matched controls; p=.03) and men with teratozoospermia (1.80µg/ml, versus 1.29µg/ml in matched controls; p=.008). Our data report a significant association between elevated Cf-DNA levels and sperm abnormalities. These results may open up new diagnostic and prognostic perspectives in male infertility.