DNA Damage In Men Research Articles

Sperm DNA damage in men with severe asthenozoospermia

Background. Sperm motility is a fundamental factor for sperm penetration into the oocyte and fertilization. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021, less than 42% of motility is called asthenozoospermia, which is one of the most common causes of male infertility. This retrospective cohort study aims to investigate sperm DNA damage with TUNEL and SCSA methods and its relationship with sperm parameters, age, and body mass index (BMI) in severe asthenospermia (<2% sperm motility) and normozoospermia. Methods. The study parameters between 111 subjects with severe asthenozoospermia and 113 subjects with normozoospermia were investigated. The 2010 World Health Organization guidelines were used to evaluate sperm parameters, and TUNEL and SCSA methods were used to assess sperm DNA damage. The statistical analysis was done using the t-test of two independent samples. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between sperm DNA damage and sperm parameters, age, and BMI P<0.05 was considered significant. Results. The mean seminal volume, sperm concentration and count, and the percentage of sperm total motility and progressive motility were significantly lower in severe asthenospermic subjects compared to normozoospermic subjects (P<0.001). In addition, the mean percentage of sperm DNA damage in severe asthenozoospermic individuals was significantly higher than in normozoospermic individuals (P<0.001). There was also a positive and significant relationship between sperm DNA damage and the age of severely asthenozoospermic men. Conclusion. Sperm motility, sperm DNA damage, and the father's age are essential in the successful conception, development, and health of the embryo. Therefore, the evaluation of sperm DNA damage is recommended in examining male fertility and selecting the appropriate treatment approach for men with severe asthenozoospermia. Practical Implications. Considering that the sperm genome constitutes 50% of the genetic material of the next generation, evaluating sperm DNA health to determine the appropriate treatment approach in infertile men can be influential in the success of assisted reproductive techniques and in maintaining the next generation’s health.

Systematic Review on Infertility in Men Due to Sperm DNA Damage: Causes Investigations, & Management

The prevalence of sperm DNA damage is common in infertile men, caused by several factors. This systematic review aims to conclude causative agents, advanced and effective diagnostic aids, and treatment plans. After a critical review of 1123 articles and research papers collected from Google Scholar, Pub-Med, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Embase, PsycINFO, Ovid Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, 14 reviews have been included in this systemic review according to PRISMA guidelines. Included studies describe sufficiently regarding cause, investigations and management of infertility in men caused by sperm DNA damage. According to the results, 14 reviews have been eligible for this systemic review. The subject of these reviews is associated with sperm DNA damage in men, causing infertility. These reviews summarised Oxidative stress as one of the major causative factors. Different diagnostic tools have advantages, making them suitable for the scenario. It summarises that the factors affecting male infertility are general worldwide. This review could provide fundamental strategic plans dealing with specific risk factors and managing accordingly.

SPERMATOZOA DNA DAMAGE IN MEN WITH REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS

Male infertility is a serious emerging problem of public health, with high social significance due to its direct connection to negative demographic trends in Bulgaria and in different regions of the world. The targeted and multifaceted studies in this field are contradictory and incomplete. Purpose: The present study analyzes the degree of spermatozoa DNA damages in men with reproductive problems. The aim of the study was to investigate the spermatozoa DNA damage in men with reproductive problems by complex approach combining comet assay and conventional sperm analysis. Material and methods: Totally 80 individuals have been studied by the usage of the conventional sperm analysis and the comet assay. The impact of environmental and lifestyle factors was analyzed based on completing the participants' voluntary questionnaire. Results: About 21% of the participants among the studied group were undergoing occupational hazards, 22% were smokers, 42% – alcohol consumers, 13% – drug users, 7% taking anabolic steroids, 31% – taking medications and 5% work or live under stress. The results obtained show that about 55% of the subjects studied were with normozoospermia, 19% – with asthenozoospermia, 13% – with oligoasthenozoospermia, 10% – with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and 3% – with asthenoteratozoospermia. Elevated levels of mean values of comet parameters were observed when the concentration, motility and percentage of cells with normal morphology were decreased (p<0.05). Conclusions: The statistically significant relationships between the analyzed characteristics could be successfully used for prognostic purposes in characterizing male reproductive health. The results of our study also confirmed that some environmental factors affecting negatively sperm structure and function should continue to be a significant public health concern nowadays.

P-083 The incidence of sperm DNA damage in men with chronic reproductive health issues

Abstract Study question What is the incidence of sperm DNA damage in men attending tertiary (urological) healthcare with long histories of infertility? Summary answer The majority of these men (95%), all with normal semen analyses had high levels of sperm DNA damage. What is known already Conventional semen analysis assesses sperm concentration, motility, and morphology but with a high degree of biological variability. Around 25% of men are given a diagnosis of unexplained infertility by normal semen analysis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in 2021 that ‘clinically there is a growing awareness that chromosomal anomalies and gene mutations underlie a diverse spectrum of male infertility,’ so now recommends that sperm DNA is determined as an extended analysis. Sperm DNA damage occurs more often in infertile men and DNA damage is associated with recurrent pregnancy loss and decreased live birth rates following fertility treatment. Study design, size, duration A retrospective study of men attending a tertiary centre with productive failure had been offered a standard semen analysis and sperm DNA fragmentation using SpermComet technology. Participants/materials, setting, methods Results from 148 men tested between April 2017 and September 2021 were recruited from a tertiary urological database in the UK. Alongside a semen analysis, they also had a sperm DNA fragmentation test. Sperm DNA quality for the participants was assessed and reported as average, low and high DNA damage as a percentage compared with clinical thresholds used by Examen from their sperm data bank of 74 fertile sperm donors with recently achieved clinical pregnancies. Main results and the role of chance The average comet score was 37.8% +/-0.5, low comet score was 35.3% +/- 1.5 and high comet score was 20.2% +/-1.2. These values were all significantly outside ( p < 0.001, Mann Whitney test)) fertile parameters. 95% of these men presenting for infertility investigations had a significantly raised DNA damage across their semen sample with low proportions of healthy sperm and high levels of sperm with genomic damage. Limitations, reasons for caution Retrospective design, small sample size, lack of randomisation and low power analysis. Wider implications of the findings Sperm DNA damage was found in most of these men who, over years of investigation hadn't been offered tests other than semen analysis or therapy to improve their sperm quality. Thus, this tool could be a useful adjunct to semen analysis to guide the men to reproductive health. Trial registration number not applicable

P-033 A third of men with normospermia attending for initial fertility assessment could have DNA damage

Abstract Study question What is the incidence of sperm DNA damage in men with normal semen analyses attending for initial fertility investigation? Summary answer Half of men (54%) attending for infertilty investigation had a normal semen analysis of which a third (32%) of these had abnormal sperm DNA. What is known already Conventional semen analysis assesses sperm concentration, motility, and morphology but with a high degree of biological variability. Around 25% of men are given a diagnosis of unexplained infertility by normal semen analysis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated in 2021 that ‘clinically there is a growing awareness that chromosomal anomalies and gene mutations underlie a diverse spectrum of male infertility,’ so now recommends that sperm DNA is determined as an extended analysis. Sperm DNA damage occurs more often in infertile men and DNA damage is associated with recurrent pregnancy loss and decreased live birth rates following fertility treatment. Study design, size, duration A prospective cohort study of men attending a secondary fertility clinic were offered a standard semen analysis plus sperm DNA fragmentation using SpermComet technology. UK IRAS ethical approval was obtained. Men attending were given a patient information leaflet at their first appointment. The study duration was 6 months. In total, 142 men were recruited out of a possible maximum of 409 attendees. Participants/materials, setting, methods Participants included men who had been referred as a couple to a secondary level infertility clinic for an initial assessment. Information leaflets were either posted to them prior to their first appointment or given to them at the initial nurse-led consultation. Those who subsequently contacted our research team re-attended for a sperm analysis and an aliquot was cryopreserved and sent in weekly batches to Examen (Northern Ireland) for SpermComet DNA fragmentation assessment. Main results and the role of chance Between May and November 2021, there were 409 attendees of whom 142 consented to the study. Sperm DNA quality for the participants was assessed and reported as average, low and high DNA damage as a percentage compared with clinical thresholds used by Examen from their sperm bank of 63 fertile sperm donors who had recently achieved clinical pregnancies. Of the 142 recruited, 77 men (54%) attending for initial investigations had normospermia assessed against the WHO criteria, so were initially classified as unexplained. Of these, 25 (32%) had abnormal sperm DNA values. The average comet score was 39.7% +/-1.3, low comet score was 37.8% +/- 4.4 and high comet score was 17.0% +/-2.0. These values were all significantly outside ( p < 0.001) of the fertile parameters from 63 fertile donors used by Examen (fertile range: average <26%%, low >74% and high <4%). Our results suggest that up to a third of men reported to have normospermia will have DNA damaged sperm. This is important to consider before labelling a couple as 'unexplained'. Knowing the male's sperm DNA fragmentation assessment would allow for further discussion and exploration of lifestyle and dietary advice. Limitations, reasons for caution During the study period, not all attendees agreed to participate as it required an additional hospital visit. In this single site study, men have not yet been followed up for future fertility outcome such as natural conception and need or success of assisted conception. Wider implications of the findings Sperm DNA damage was found in a third of men who would previously have been classified as fertile and offered no further investigations or treatment to improve their sperm quality. Thus, this tool could be a useful adjunct to semen analysis to guide these couples’ future treatment pathways. Trial registration number not applicable

Sperm DNA damage in men with spinal cord injury: the relative incidence of single- and double-strand DNA breaks.

Men with spinal cord injury (SCI) show a high proportion of sperm DNA damage in their ejaculate but the underlying pathology remains elusive. To investigate the relative incidence of single (SSBs) and double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and DNase activity in men with SCI. This study included ejaculates of 20 men with SCI and 27 normozoospermic (sperm donors). A TwoTails comet assay (TTComet) allowed visualization of three categories of sperm DNA damage corresponding to SSBs, DSBs and those with a combination of SSBs and DSBs, facilitating accurate calculation of the total proportion of SSBs and DSBs. A subset of 15 individuals (sperm donors and SCI patients) was used to test for DNase activity in the seminal plasma. While the proportion of DSBs in men with SCI (median-57.5%) was higher (P=0.000) than normozoospermic samples (median-4.6%), the proportion of SSBs was higher (P=0.022) in the normozoospermic ejaculates (median-6.0%) compared to men with SCI (median-2.5%). The relative proportion of the total DSBs with respect to the total SSBs was 3.3× in men with SCI but 0.9× in normozoospermic samples. We further confirmed the high DNase activity in the seminal plasma of men with SCI. The TTComet assay provided new insights to the pathology of sperm DNA in men with SCI and may have diagnostic value in developing sperm selection methodologies to reduce DSBs prior to ART. Men with SCI are characterized by a high proportion of sperm with DSBs and high levels of DNase activity in the seminal plasma compared to normozoospermic men.

The Role of Seminal Oxidative Stress Scavenging System in the Pathogenesis of Sperm DNA Damage in Men Exposed and Not Exposed to Genital Heat Stress

Responding to the need for the verification of some experimental animal studies showing the involvement of oxidative stress in germ cell damage in the heat-induced testis, we investigated the possibility of a direct relationship between seminal oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and malondialdehyde concentration) and ejaculated sperm chromatin/DNA integrity (DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation abnormalities) in distinct groups of men exposed and not exposed to prolonged scrotal hyperthermia. A statistical increase in the proportion of sperm with DNA fragmentation was observed in all the studied subgroups compared to the fertile men. In turn, the groups subjected to heat stress as professional drivers or infertile men with varicocele presented greater disturbances in the oxidative stress scavenging system than men not exposed to genital heat stress. Based on the comparative analysis of the studied parameters, we can conclude that alterations in the seminal oxidative stress scavenging system are directly engaged in the pathogenesis of ejaculated sperm DNA damage regardless of the intensity of the impact of thermal insult. To the best of our knowledge, this study, for the first time, revealed the co-existence of oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage in the semen of professional drivers.

Relationship between serum vitamin D levels semen parameters and sperm DNA damage in men with unexplained infertility.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between serum level of vitamin D, semen analysis parameters and sperm DNA damage in men with unexplained subfertility. Fifty-eight men diagnosed with unexplained infertility and 50 age and BMI matched fertile men were included in the study. A participant whose semen parameter is normal but pregnancy is not achieved was accepted as unexplained male infertility. Blood samples were taken from all participants following three-day abstinence for measurement of vitamin D. Sperm DNA damage was assessed by Aniline Blue staining of the collected samples. Compared with the fertile men, male patients with unexplained infertility had significantly lower vit D levels (27.00 ng/mL (12.63-39.30) vs. 23.66 ng/mL (7.50-55.00), p<0.004). While the number of patients with vitamin D levels lower than 20 ng/mL was 26 (44.8%) in the infertile group, it was recorded as 5 (10.0%) in the fertile group (p<0.001). DNA damage was found in 31.50% (9.0-71.0) of the infertile men and 26.00% (11.0-54.0) of the fertile men. DNA damage was found to be significantly higher in the unexplained infertile group (p<0.002). In men with unexplained male infertility, serum vit D levels were positively correlated with total sperm count (r = 0.527, p<0.001), total motility (r = 0.527, p<0.001) and sperm morphology (r = 0.416, p = 0.001). There was a negative and significant correlation between vit D levels and sperm DNA damage (r = -0.605, p<0.001). In the logistic regression analysis, serum vit D > 20 ng/mL led to an improvement in fertility outcome. Men with unexplained infertility exhibit decreased serum vit D levels and increased sperm DNA damage.

Coenzyme Q10, oxidative stress markers, and sperm DNA damage in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia.

ObjectiveOxidative stress (OS) plays a key role in the etiology of unexplained male infertility. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant that may improve semen quality and OS in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT), but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of CoQ10 on OS markers and sperm DNA damage in infertile patients with idiopathic OAT.MethodsThis prospective controlled study included 50 patients with idiopathic OAT and 50 fertile men who served as controls. All patients underwent a comprehensive medical assessment. Patients and controls received 200 mg of oral CoQ10 once daily for 3 months. Semen and blood were collected and analyzed for sperm parameters, seminal CoQ10 levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity, catalase, sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), and serum hormonal profile.ResultsThe administration of CoQ10 to patients with idiopathic OAT significantly improved sperm quality and seminal antioxidant status and significantly reduced total ROS and SDF levels compared to pretreatment values.ConclusionCoQ10, at a dose of 200 mg/day for 3 months, may be a potential therapy for infertile patients with idiopathic OAT, as it improved sperm parameters and reduced OS and SDF in these patients.

Oxidative origin of sperm DNA fragmentation in the adult varicocele.

ABSTRACTPurpose:Sperm DNA fragmentation is a major cellular mechanism underlying varicocele-related male infertility. However, the type of DNA fragmentation - whether oxidative or of another nature - remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate single- and double-stranded sperm DNA fragmentation, and oxidative-induced sperm DNA damage in men with varicocele.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed, including 94 normozoospermic adults, of which 39 men without varicocele (controls) and 55 men with varicocele grades II or III, uni- or bilaterally. All men collected semen by masturbation. After semen analysis, the remaining volume was used for evaluation of three types of sperm DNA damage: (i) total DNA fragmentation, using an alkaline comet assay, (ii) double-stranded DNA fragmentation, using a neutral comet assay, and (iii) oxidative DNA damage, using an alkaline comet assay associated with the DNA glycosylase formamidopyrimidine enzyme. In each assay, percentage of sperm with any degree of DNA fragmentation, and with high DNA fragmentation were compared between the groups using an unpaired Student's t test or a Mann-Whitney test.Results:The varicocele group presented a higher rate of sperm with fragmented DNA (both any and high DNA fragmentation), considering single-stranded DNA fragmentation, double-stranded DNA fragmentation, or a combination of both, as well as oxidative- induced DNA fragmentation.Conclusions:Patients with varicocele have an increase in sperm DNA fragmentation levels, particularly in oxidative stress-induced sperm DNA damage.

Teratozoospermia: Its association with sperm DNA defects, apoptotic alterations, and oxidative stress.

This study was carried out to evaluate the level of nuclear sperm DNA damage in men with isolated polymorphic teratozoospermiaand examining its relationship with apoptosis and oxidative stress. A total of 89 subjects were divided into two groups: men with isolated teratozoospermia (n=69) and men with normal semen parameters (n=20) as controls. Sperm DNA breaks were determined by using acridine orange staining. The proportion of viable spermatozoa with mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization was detected by fluorescence microscopy through the use of MitoPTJC-1 staining method. Bivariate Annexin V/6-CFDA analysis was then set out in order to measure the percentage of both viable and dead spermatozoa with phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization. Seminal antioxidant profile (reduced glutathione (GSHr); oxidized glutathione (GSSG); glutathione S-transferase (GST)) and total protein sulfhydryl (P-SH) concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically. Men with isolated teratozoospermia, when compared to controls, showed significantly increased level of single sperm DNA breaks and higher proportions of spermatozoa with phosphatidylserine externalization and mitochondrial depolarization. Among the differently studied oxidative stress seminal parameters, the rates of seminal GSHr, GST, and P-SH were significantly decreased in the teratozoospermic group. However, the seminal rates of GSSG and GST have decreased, but only GST did not show a significant difference. Interestingly, significant correlations were found between the studied apoptotic markers and the rate of atypical sperm forms with the incidences of head abnormalities. Furthermore, positive inter-correlations were found between sperm DNA defects, impaired seminal antioxidant status, and the apoptotic sperm markers. Such data provide clear evidence that the apoptotic alterations are closely correlated to abnormal sperm morphology and DNA damage. Moreover, decreased seminal antioxidant profile may be a crucial factor involved in the mechanism of sperm cell death-mediated DNA breaks in teratozoospermic semen.

Sperm DNA Damage Before and After Kidney Transplantation

Background: Thirty-six people per one million have end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD has the indication of kidney transplantation; or hemodialysis and it is one of the causes of infertility in men. Objectives: A high prevalence of sperm DNA damage is reported in men's semen with ESRD; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate sperm DNA damage in men with ESRD before and after kidney transplantation. Methods: This study evaluated 15 men with chronic renal failure and were candidates for kidney transplantation. DNA damage and semen parameters were investigated in the semen of these patients before and after the transplantation. Aniline blue and toluidine blue staining were used to evaluate the sperm chromatin structure and condensation. The slides were analyzed by light microscope to determine the percentage of DNA damage in sperms. Results: The percentage of positive aniline blue and toluidine blue significantly decreased after kidney transplantation (40% versus 29%, P = 0.01 for aniline blue and 45% versus 35%, P = 0.01 for toluidine blue). Sperm morphology, count, motility, and sperm volume were improved after the transplantation; except for the morphology, all of them were statically significant. Conclusions: These findings support that the kidney transplantation in patients with renal failure could improve chromatin structure and condensation and sperm parameters. Additionally both toluidine blue and aniline blue staining are simple and suitable techniques to evaluate DNA damage.

Sex Differences in Aging: Genomic Instability.

Aging is characterized by decreasing physiological integration, reduced function, loss of resilience, and increased risk of death. Paradoxically, although women live longer, they suffer greater morbidity particularly late in life. These sex differences in human lifespan and healthspan are consistently observed in all countries and during every era for which reliable data exist. While these differences are ubiquitous in humans, evidence of sex differences in longevity and health for other species is more equivocal. Among fruit flies, nematodes, and mice, sex differences in lifespan vary depending on strain and treatment. In this review, we focus on sex differences in age-related alterations in DNA damage and mutation rates, telomere attrition, epigenetics, and nuclear architecture. We find that robust sex differences exist, eg, the higher incidence of DNA damage in men compared to women, but sex differences are not often conserved between species. For most mechanisms reviewed here, there are insufficient data to make a clear determination regarding the impact of sex, largely because sex differences have not been analyzed. Overall, our findings reveal an urgent need for well-designed studies that explicitly examine sex differences in molecular drivers of aging.

Sperm quality and DNA damage in men from Jilin Province, China, who are occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation.

Long-term radiation exposure affects human health. Ionizing radiation has long been known to raise the risk of cancer. In addition to high doses of radiation, low-dose ionizing radiation might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, lens opacity, and some other non-cancerous diseases. Low- and high-dose exposures to ionizing radiation elicit different signaling events at the molecular level, and may involve different response mechanisms. The health risks arising from exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation should be re-evaluated. Health workers exposed to ionizing radiation experience low-dose radiation and have an increased risk of hematological malignancies. Reproductive function is sensitive to changes in the physical environment, including ionizing radiation. However, data is scarce regarding the association between occupational radiation exposure and risk to human fertility. Sperm DNA integrity is a functional parameter of male fertility evaluation. Hence, we aimed to report sperm quality and DNA damage in men from Jilin Province, China, who were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. Sperm motility and normal morphology were significantly lower in the exposed compared with the non-exposed men. There was no statistically significant difference in sperm concentration between exposed and non-exposed men. The sperm DNA fragmentation index was significantly higher in the exposed than the non-exposed men. Chronic long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation could affect sperm motility, normal morphology, and the sperm DNA fragmentation index in the Chinese population. Sperm quality and DNA integrity are functional parameters that could be used to evaluate occupational exposure to ionizing radiation.

Which isolated sperm abnormality is most related to sperm DNA damage in men presenting for infertility evaluation

Sperm DNA damage is common in infertile men and is associated with poor semen parameters but the impact of an isolated sperm abnormality on sperm DNA damage has not been studied. To evaluate sperm DNA damage in a large cohort of infertile men with isolated sperm defects. Retrospective study of 1084 consecutive, non-azoospermic infertile men with an isolated sperm defect: isolated oligozoospermia (iOligo), isolated asthenozoospermia (iAstheno) or isolated teratozoospermia (iTerato). We examined and compared clinical parameters, conventional semen parameters and %sperm DNA fragmentation (%SDF, assessed by flow cytometry-based Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP Nick End-Labeling assay) in the three groups of men. The mean (±SD) %SDF was significantly higher in the iAstheno compared to the iOligo and iTerato groups (25.0 ± 14.0 vs. 19.2 ± 11.6 and 20.7 ± 12.1%, respectively, P < 0.0001). Similarly, the proportion of men with high %SDF (>30%) was significantly higher in the iAstheno compared to the iOligo and iTerato groups (31% vs. 18% and 19%, respectively, P < 0.0001). In the group of 713 men with iAstheno, %SDF was positively correlated with paternal age (r = 0.20, P < 0.0001) and inversely correlated with %progressive motility (r = -0.18, P < 0.0001). In the subset of 218 men with iTerato, %SDF was also positively correlated with paternal age (r = 0.15, P = 0.018) and inversely correlated with %progressive motility (r = -0.26, P = 0.0001). In this large cohort of infertile men with isolated sperm abnormalities, we have found that the sperm DNA fragmentation level is highest in the men with sperm motility defects and that 31% of these men have high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. The data indicate that poor motility is the sperm parameter abnormality most closely related to sperm DNA damage.

Diagnostic accuracy of sperm chromatin dispersion test to evaluate sperm deoxyribonucleic acid damage in men with unexplained infertility

To compare the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test and the terminal uridine nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay for assessment of sperm DNA damage. Prospective comparative experimental study. Andrology laboratory. Twenty subfertile men with unexplained infertility. Sperm DNA damage was determined in the same semen samples using the TUNEL assay with fluorescence microscopy and the SCD test with bright-field microscopy. Correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic analysis outcomes. The TUNEL assay was used as the reference standard to identify optimal cutoff points for assessing DNA damage by SCD. The SCD test detected a significantly higher proportion of sperm with damaged DNA (20.6% ± 14.0%) than the TUNEL assay (11.5% ± 7.3%). Spearman's rank correlation showed that the methods were not comparable (r = 0.29). Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that 15% was the best SCD cutoff point to classify patients within the same levels of DNA fragmentation, normal or abnormal, as determined by the TUNEL assay, with an accuracy of 69%. The SCD test is more sensitive than the TUNEL assay for the assessment of DNA damage in men with unexplained infertility. Although the methods are poorly correlated, SCD may discriminate men with normal and abnormal sperm DNA damage with moderate accuracy when compared with TUNEL. It is important to distinguish between the methods because they differently evaluate sperm DNA damage.

Sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test identifies more spermatozoa with DNA damage than the TUNEL assay in men with unexplained infertility

Sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test identifies more spermatozoa with DNA damage than the TUNEL assay in men with unexplained infertility

Oxidative stress and sperm DNA quality in couples experiencing recurrent IVF failure

Sperm has dynamic and critical role in embryogenesis. Supraphysiological reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, decreased antioxidant and DNA damage affect the embryonic viability and post natal health. Study was planned to understand association of seminal ROS, antioxidant capacity and sperm DNA damage in men of couples experiencing recurrent in vivo fertilization (IVF) failure.

The Effect of Radiation on Semen Quality and Fertility in Men Treated With Brachytherapy for Early Stage Prostate Cancer

We determined the effects of prostatic brachytherapy on semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity, and the potential impact on fertility. Five screened patients treated with brachytherapy participated in a pilot study visit to undergo early morning blood collection for serum hormone evaluation and semen collection for semen analysis and DNA integrity assay by sperm chromatin structure assay. Data on 7,617 infertile men, each with at least 1 semen analysis and sperm DNA integrity assay, were obtained from an institutional database for comparison. Published data on fertile men were compared to data on those with brachytherapy for DNA fragmentation analysis. All brachytherapy cases had normal serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone. Specific semen parameters, such as semen volume (p <0.0005), total sperm concentration (p <0.0004) and percent sperm motility (p <0.004), were significantly lower than normal reference values. As measured by the DNA fragmentation index, the mean sperm DNA fragmentation of 46.4% in brachytherapy cases was significantly higher than in the fertile group (13.3%, p <0.0003), the total infertile group (20.4%, p <0.0002) and the age matched infertile group 45 to 53 years old (27.9%, p <0.03). All men with brachytherapy had an abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation index, indicating likely infertility in all. Infertility may well be a long-term adverse effect of brachytherapy for localized, low grade prostate cancer. All men who undergo brachytherapy should be counseled about its potential impact on fertility.

Frequency and severity of sperm DNA damage in patients with confirmed cases of male infertility of different aetiologies

Men with high sperm DNA damage have a reduced fertility potential. Correlation of specific clinical factors to the degree of sperm DNA damage remains unclear. This retrospective study evaluated the frequency and severity of sperm DNA damage in men with different aetiologies of male factor infertility. Patients with male factor infertility (n=288) underwent flow cytometry-based sperm DNA damage assessment and results were correlated with the major aetiologies of male infertility: varicocele, bacteriospermia and idiopathic infertility. Sperm DNA damage was significantly correlated to the patient's age, sperm motility, normal morphology and vitality (P < 0.001). High sperm DNA damage (30%) was most frequently found in the group with bacteriospermia (48%), compared with 30% of the men with varicoceles and 22% of the men with idiopathic infertility (P < 0.02). While some tendency was observed for a correlation of increasing sperm DNA damage in patients with grade III and bilateral varicoceles, this difference did not reach statistical significance. The data support the importance of proper physical and laboratory investigations of the fertility status in men to correctly diagnose and treat male infertility.