Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the levels of DNA fragmentation regarding to spermatozoa morphology in male infertility patients attending Andrology Laboratory at fertility center. Methods: Semen samples of 196 patients were analyzed using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by the sperm chromatin dispersion test. According to the values of sperm morphology, the groups were conformed by teratozoospermic (105 patients) and normozoospermic (91 patients) men. Results: Subjects’ ages ranged from 21 to 68 years. Teratozoospermic men were older that the normozoospermic men (39.72 ± 7.86 vs. 36.57 ± 6.29 years; P<0.05). Values of pH were similar in both evaluated groups (P:NS). Parameters of volume, concentration, motility and vitality in teratozoospermic men were significantly lower compared to those normozoospermic patients (P<0.05). High levels of DNA fragmentation were observed in those patients with abnormal sperm morphology compared to normozoospermic men (44.31 ± 7.52 vs. 34.92 ± 5.89; P<0.05). Conclusions: Men with abnormal spermatozoa morphology showed high levels of DNA fragmentation. These significantly high percentages of sperm DNA damage will be an additional factor that drastically reduces the possibility of success in these infertile men.
Highlights
Semen quality is frequently used as an indirect measure of male infertility
All the patients had a normal 46, XY karyotype, a testicular volume within the normal range, no history of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chronic illness, medication or varicocele. This protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the corresponding Ethics Committee
Concentration, motility and vitality were significantly lower in teratozoospermic men group compared to the normozoospermic men (P
Summary
Sperm concentration, motility and morphology determined according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) are the most important parameters evaluated in infertility centers as part of routine semen analysis. Spermatozoa with abnormal morphology or Teratozoospermia have been associated with infertility and the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) technique is frequently used as the treatment of choice. Several concerns about safety and impact of ICSI on the offspring have been raised due to the forced injection of putative abnormal spermatozoa [1]. Sperm with morphology and normal genetic material is required for successful fertilization, as well as for further embryo and fetal development that will result in healthy offspring [2,3,4,5,6]. Teratozoospermia is usually defined as ≤ 4% normal sperm morphology at semen analysis with normal sperm count and normal progressive motility [7]. Many studies have shown that semen samples with teratozoospermia produce lower fertilization rates when conventional IVF was used [8,9,10]
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