Sperm DNA fragmentation index does not correlate with blastocyst aneuploidy or morphological grading.

Itai Gat,Valeriy Kuznyetsov,Ran Antes,Khaled Zohni,Clifford Librach,Kevin Quach,Katelynn Tang,Melissa Filice,Wendy Dean

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179002

Abstract

High DNA fragmentation index (DFI) may be associated with poor outcome after IVF. Our aim was to determine whether DFI impacts blastocyst quality or clinical outcome. This retrospective study included 134 couples who underwent 177 IVF-ICSI and pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) cycles during January 1st, 2014—March 31st, 2016 and had documented previous DFI. Group 1 (DFI>30%) encompassed 25 couples who underwent 36 cycles; Group 2 (DFI 15–30%) included 45 couples and 57 cycles; group 3 (DFI<15%) included 64 couples and 83 cycles. Male partners within group 1 were older (45.1 compared to 40.6 and 38.3 years, respectively, p<0.05), had higher BMI (32.4 compared to 26.6 and 25.8 respectively, p<0.05) and lower sperm count and motility (46*106/ml and 35.5%, respectively) compared to groups 2 (61.8*106/ml and 46.6%, respectively) and 3 (75.8*106/ml and 55.1%, respectively, p<0.05). Female parameters including ovarian reserve and response and embryo development were similar. Total numbers of biopsied blastocysts were 116, 175 and 259 in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. PGS for 24 chromosomes revealed comparable euploidy rate of 46–50.4%, with a similar morphological classification. No significant differences were found regarding pregnancy rates or pregnancy loss. It seems that DFI doesn't correlate with blastocyst aneuploidy or morphological grading.

Highlights

Infertility is a common medical concern, which affects approximately one of every six couples attempting to conceive [1], and results from a male factor in up to 50% of cases [2]
The only published study we could find that assessed preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and sperm DNA fragmentation failed to demonstrate a correlation this study examined only day 3 embryos, used the more limited FISH technology and only involved 38 patients [18]
In the current study we focused on the impact of sperm DNA damage on pre-implantation embryonic ploidy and morphological grading

Summary

Introduction

Infertility is a common medical concern, which affects approximately one of every six couples attempting to conceive [1], and results from a male factor in up to 50% of cases [2]. Sperm DFI and blastocyst quality in order to protect it and transport it within the female genital track In their comprehensive review, Rathke et al described in detail the transformation process involving hyper acetylation of histones and incorporation of histone variants to loosen the nucleosomal structure followed by replacement of transition proteins by protamines, allowing tight DNA packaging into a higher-order structure. Rathke et al described in detail the transformation process involving hyper acetylation of histones and incorporation of histone variants to loosen the nucleosomal structure followed by replacement of transition proteins by protamines, allowing tight DNA packaging into a higher-order structure This sophisticated process is accompanied by the induction of DNA strand breaks [5]. Various processes may damage chromatin integrity leading to DNA fragmentation, such as apoptosis, enzymatically induced DNA breaks, radical oxidants species or gonado-toxic treatments [6]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion