Abstract
Developing a deeper knowledge about the impact of DNA and RNA epigenetic mutations on sperm production and fertilization performance is essential for selecting best quality samples in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Indeed, sperm RNAs adenine and guanine are likely to be methylated in low quality RNA sperm samples and their study requires the employment of techniques able to isolate high quality nucleic acids. UV resonance Raman spectroscopy represents a valuable tool that is able to monitor peculiar molecular modifications occurring predominantly in nucleic acids, being less sensitive to the presence of other biological compounds. In this work, we used an UV Resonance Raman (UVRR) setup coupled to a synchrotron radiation source tuned at 250 nm, in order to enhance sperm RNAs adenine and guanine vibrational signals, reducing also the impact of a fluorescence background typically occurring at lower energies. Despite that our protocol should be further optimized and further analyses are requested, our results support the concept that UVRR can be applied for setting inexpensive tools to be employed for semen quality assessment in ART.
Highlights
The detection of specific changes in DNA/RNA sequences is a main challenge both in biology and medicine, with the possibility of revealing cellular states and disease conditions
Patients 1, 4 and 5 have a low concentration of spermatozoa (≤15 million/mL, [24]), while total motility parameter classified the patients into 2 subpopulations: patients diagnosed with oligoasthenozoospermia and with asthenozoospermia
We already reported that UV Resonance Raman spectroscopy represents a valuable tool for studying DNA damages [1] and its epigenetic modifications such as cytosine methylation, which can lead to the development of several diseases [23]
Summary
The detection of specific changes in DNA/RNA sequences is a main challenge both in biology and medicine, with the possibility of revealing cellular states and disease conditions. The applicability of related new methods and concepts to reproductive medicine field is desired, to improve diagnosis and male gamete quality assessment [1,2]. The routinary semen analysis does not investigate possible sperm nucleic acids alteration such as DNA fragmentation, damage or epigenetic modifications (i.e., DNA methylation) [7], which significantly modify the semen quality parameters as well as the fertilization and implantation rates [8]. Considerable attention has been focused on the correlation between DNA methylation and infertility, and some genes have been found to be methylated in patients with an impaired spermatogenesis and/or with reproductive dysfunctions [10], while little is still known about the impact of epigenetic and other modifications of RNA on fertility [11,12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
