scholarly journals Sperm DNA Fragmentation, Determined Using the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) Test, A Study in Republic of Kosovo Population

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Afrim Zeqiraj ◽  
Sheqibe Beadini ◽  
Nexhbedin Beadini ◽  
Hesat Aliu ◽  
Zafer Gashi ◽  
...  

Infertility is a common condition affecting one in six couples of childbearing age. In approximately 40% of these cases, a male factor is involved. Sperm DNA integrity is essential for accurate transmission of genetic information. Materials and Methods: In this study 152 patients, 64 patients it is infertility group and 88 patients are fertile males. The ejaculate samples were taken in accordance with the patient to whom the reason for the analysis of the ejaculate sample was previously explained. All patients have been in the Dukagjini Region in the Republic of Kosovo. The samples were collected from 2016/18. Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) test, analysis in the ejaculate was performed at the Biolab Zafi, Laboratory in Peja, in the Republic of Kosovo. Statistical analysis: Data are reported as mean ± SD. The comparisons between groups were tested by student's t-test, ANOVA. A p-value less than 0.05% was considered statistically significant. Results: From our research studies, we have achieved significant (p <.00001) scores among the working group and control group across all sperm parameters, and DNA fragmentation. Conclusion: In summary, we have demonstrated that there was a negative correlation between DNA fragmentation, sperm motility, and morphology in infertile males. We conclude that sperm DNA fragmentation appears to be a useful technique to predict outcome in couples undergoing IVF/ICSI. To evaluate whether DFI 23.94 ± 4.68% can be used to determine male infertility in our country by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD), it is necessary to carry out further large-scale research by other authors.

Zygote ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thais Rose dos Santos Hamilton ◽  
Mayra Elena Ortiz D’Ávila Assumpção

SummarySperm DNA fragmentation is referred to as one of the main causes of male infertility. Failures in the protamination process, apoptosis and action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered the most important causes of DNA fragmentation. Action of ROS or changes in sperm protamination would increase the susceptibility of sperm DNA to fragmentation. Routine semen analysis is unable to estimate sperm chromatin damage. Sperm DNA integrity influences sperm functional capability, therefore tests that measure sperm DNA fragmentation are important to assess fertility disorders. Actually, there is a considerable number of methods for assessing sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin integrity, sperm chromatin stability assay (SCSA modified), sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD), comet assay, transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL); and protamine evaluation in sperm chromatin assay, such as toluidine blue, CMA3, protamine expression and evaluation of cysteine radicals. This review aims to describe the main causes of sperm DNA fragmentation and the tests commonly used to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (8) ◽  
pp. 1342-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Afrim Zeqiraj ◽  
Sheqibe Beadini ◽  
Nexhbedin Beadini ◽  
Hesat Aliu ◽  
Zafer Gashi ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: One of the main factors affecting male infertility is DNA fragmentation in sperm. Male infertility is a heterogeneous group of disorders, known causes account for only 30-50%, and unknown cause (idiopathic) constitute the rest. Infertility involves nearly 15% of couples in the reproductive age, and only the male problem involves about 40% of the problems.AIM: We have studied our DNA damage to sperm cells of a group of infertile males (113 patients) with abnormal sperm parameters (oligoasthenospermia and oligospermia) and a group of male patients (80 patients) with normal semen parameters (normospermia) to document whether the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) analysis could increase the information obtained from the sperm routine analysis to explain the causes of infertility.MATERIALS: A group of 193 patients were analysed, 113 patients in the working group and 80 patients in the control group were screened. The ejaculate samples were taken by the patient to whom the reason for the analysis was explained. All patients were from the Republic of Kosovo. Samples are collected from 2014/2018. Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) analyses in the ejaculate were analysed by the Biolab Zafi laboratory in Peja.RESULTS: Clinical data were compared between the two groups by one-way ANOVA, mean ± SD, student's t-test. A p-value of less than P < 0.05% was considered statistically significant. Outcomes: In our study, we have gained significant (P < 0.05) results in the workgroup and the control group across all hormonal parameters, sperm parameters, and fragmented DNA in the sperm.CONCLUSION: Based on our obtained results we can conclude that DNA fragmentation in spermatozoa is useful in the selection of unsuitable DNA sperm for use in ART methods. We conclude that our DNA fragmentation analysis results are encouraging and can be used for diagnostic purposes in determining male infertility.


Biomonitoring ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hueiwang Anna Jeng ◽  
Ruei-Nian Li ◽  
Wen-Yi Lin

Abstract:The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between semen quality parameters and DNA integrity, and determine whether semen quality parameters could serve as a reliable biomarker for monitoring sperm DNA damage. Conventional semen parameters from a total of 202 male human subjects were analyzed. DNA fragmentation and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′- deoxyguanosine (8-oxoGuo) were used to assess sperm DNA integrity. DNA fragmentation was analyzed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), while 8-oxodGuo was quantified by the liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) coupled with an on-line solid phase system. The levels of 8-oxodGuo levels in sperm were related to the percentages of DNA fragmentation measured by both the TUNEL and SCSA (r = 0.22, p = 0.048; r = 0.12, p = 0.039). Sperm vitality, motility and morphology from all of the participants exhibited a weak correlation with the levels of 8-oxodGuo and the percentages of DNA fragmentation. Semen quality parameters may be independent of the formation of DNA fragmentation and oxidative adducts in sperm. Semen quality parameters may be insufficient to monitor sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidative damage. DNA damage in sperm is recommended to be included in routine measurements.


Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata Simões ◽  
Weber Beringui Feitosa ◽  
Adriano Felipe Perez Siqueira ◽  
Marcilio Nichi ◽  
Fabíola Freitas Paula-Lopes ◽  
...  

Sperm chromatin fragmentation may be caused by a number of factors, the most significant of which is reactive oxygen species. However, little is known about the effect of sperm oxidative stress (OS) on DNA integrity, fertilization, and embryonic development in cattle. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of sperm OS susceptibility on the DNA fragmentation rate and in vitro embryo production (IVP) in a population of bulls. Groups of cryopreserved sperm samples were divided into four groups, based on their susceptibility to OS (G1, low OS; G2, average OS; G3, high OS; and G4, highest OS). Our results demonstrated that the sperm DNA integrity was compromised in response to increased OS susceptibility. Furthermore, semen samples with lower susceptibility to OS were also less susceptible to DNA damage (G1, 4.06%; G2, 6.09%; G3, 6.19%; and G4, 6.20%). In addition, embryo IVP provided evidence that the embryo cleavage rate decreased as the OS increased (G1, 70.18%; G2, 62.24%; G3, 55.85%; and G4, 50.93%), but no significant difference in the blastocyst rate or the number of blastomeres was observed among the groups. The groups with greater sensitivity to OS were also associated with a greater percentage of apoptotic cells (G1, 2.6%; G2, 2.76%; G3, 5.59%; and G4, 4.49%). In conclusion, we demonstrated that an increased susceptibility to OS compromises sperm DNA integrity and consequently reduces embryo quality.


2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Alargkof ◽  
Larissa Kersten ◽  
Romil Stanislavov ◽  
Zdravko Kamenov ◽  
Panagiotis Nikolinakos

Objective: This exploratory retrospective study aimed to compare the level of Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) and investigate its association with bulk semen parameters, for the first time in Bulgarian patients with varicocele, using a distinct methodology. Material and methods: Standard semen analysis was performed according to the 2010 criteria of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology - Nordic Association for Andrology (ESHRE-NAFA-2010) and DNA fragmentation was assessed using the Halosperm® kit. The total sample included 28 males: the control group consisted of men with normal genital examination and unknown fertility (n = 10), group one consisted of men with varicocele, normozoospermia and DNA fragmentation > 15% (n = 9) and group two consisted of men with varicocele, abnormal sperm parameters and DNA fragmentation > 15% (n = 9). Results: DNA fragmentation was found to be higher in patients with abnormal sperm parameters (43.78 ± 30.78) compared to the normozoospermic group (21.22 ± 3.93) (p = 0.008). In normozoospermic patients, no statistically significant correlations were observed between SDF and bulk semen parameters. In patients with abnormal sperm parameters, DNA fragmentation exhibited significant very strong negative association with motility (a+b), vitality and typical morphology (p < 0.001). Conclusions: DNA integrity assays could be used for a better evaluation and management of male infertility, particularly in normozoospermic varicocele patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciano Negri ◽  
Renzo Benaglia ◽  
Emanuela Monti ◽  
Emanuela Morenghi ◽  
Alessandro Pizzocaro ◽  
...  

Background: antioxidants supplementation improves sperm quality, but few trials have analyzed the effects on sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). This study compares the effectiveness of SOD-based antioxidant supplementation plus hydroxytyrosol and carnosol in reducing SDF with other antioxidants without SOD, hydroxytyrosol, and carnosol. Materials and methods: men with high SDF at baseline were selected in our clinical database. The patients taken into account had a 2-month control. SDF was measured by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test (SCD). Untreated men were used as a control group. The remaining subjects received some oral antioxidant supplements (12 different combinations of both hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants), with some of them receiving nutritional support with a SOD-based antioxidant supplementation plus hydroxytyrosol and carnosol. Results: 118 men were selected for a retrospective study. Mean age 39.3 ± 5.4 years. Fifteen had no treatment, 55 were treated with a SOD-based antioxidant supplementation plus hydroxytyrosol and carnosol, and 48 took some antioxidant supplements for 2 months. Clinically, variations of at least 10% in baseline values of classic semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were taken into consideration. Classic seminal parameters did not vary significantly in the three groups, with the exception of viability (p = 0.001). We assessed which of the active substances (no. 19) in different formulations were associated with variations in SDF. In the multivariable analysis of the 7 active substances that passed the univariable analysis, only the SOD molecule appeared to be linked to an improvement in SDF (< 0.0001). In detail, only one patient in the control group showed a spontaneous improvement in SDF (6%), compared to 16/48 (33%) of those taking various oral antioxidant supplements, and 31/55 (56%) of those taking a SOD-based antioxidant supplementation plus hydroxytyrosol and carnosol. Conclusions: SOD-based antioxidant supplementation plus hydroxytyrosol and carnosol seems to provide a better chance of improving sperm DNA integrity than other classical antioxidant molecules.


2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1826) ◽  
pp. 20152708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier delBarco-Trillo ◽  
Olga García-Álvarez ◽  
Ana Josefa Soler ◽  
Maximiliano Tourmente ◽  
José Julián Garde ◽  
...  

Sperm competition, a prevalent evolutionary process in which the spermatozoa of two or more males compete for the fertilization of the same ovum, leads to morphological and physiological adaptations, including increases in energetic metabolism that may serve to propel sperm faster but that may have negative effects on DNA integrity. Sperm DNA damage is associated with reduced rates of fertilization, embryo and fetal loss, offspring mortality, and mutations leading to genetic disease. We tested whether high levels of sperm competition affect sperm DNA integrity. We evaluated sperm DNA integrity in 18 species of rodents that differ in their levels of sperm competition using the sperm chromatin structure assay. DNA integrity was assessed upon sperm collection, in response to incubation under capacitating or non-capacitating conditions, and after exposure to physical and chemical stressors. Sperm DNA was very resistant to physical and chemical stressors, whereas incubation in non-capacitating and capacitating conditions resulted in only a small increase in sperm DNA damage. Importantly, levels of sperm competition were positively associated with sperm DNA fragmentation across rodent species. This is the first evidence showing that high levels of sperm competition lead to an important cost in the form of increased sperm DNA damage.


Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Shikai Wang ◽  
Weihong Tan ◽  
Yueyue Huang ◽  
Xianbao Mao ◽  
Zhengda Li ◽  
...  

Summary To determine the effects of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) on embryo morphokinetic parameters, cleavage patterns and embryo quality, this retrospective study analyzed 151 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles (1152 embryos collected) between November 2016 and June 2019. SDF was assessed using sperm chromatin dispersion. The cycles were divided into two groups based on the SDF rate: SDF < 15% (n = 114) and SDF ≥ 15% (n = 37). The embryo morphokinetic parameters, cleavage patterns, and embryo quality were compared between the two groups. The morphokinetic parameters tPNf, t2, t3, t4, t5, t6, and t8 were achieved significantly earlier in the SDF < 15% group compared with in the SDF ≥ 15% group. The fertilization and 2PN rates seemed to be significantly higher in the SDF < 15% group compared with in the SDF ≥ 15% group, while the abnormal cleavage rates were similar. However, a significantly higher rate of chaotic cleavage (CC) was observed in the SDF ≥ 15% group. The D3 high-quality embryo and available embryo rates were similar between the two groups. The blastocyst formation, high-quality blastocyst, and available blastocyst rates in the SDF < 15% group were significantly higher than those in the SDF ≥ 15% group. With an increase in SDF level, the chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and implantation rates tended to decrease, while the miscarriage rate increased. This study demonstrated that SDF ≥ 15% reduces the fertilization rate of ICSI cycles and affects certain morphokinetic parameters. A higher SDF level can also induce a higher rate of CC, with subsequent decreases in the blastocyst formation rate and blastocyst quality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 83-84
Author(s):  
Marina Fortes ◽  
Wei Liang Andre Tan ◽  
Laercio R Porto-Neto ◽  
Antonio Reverter ◽  
Gry B Boe-Hansen

Abstract Traits such as sperm morphology and motility are routine in veterinarian evaluations of bull fertility. However, they rarely are included in livestock breeding programs, which typically use only scrotal circumference (SC) and some female traits for fertility selection. We studied 25 male fertility traits measured in two research populations of bulls (1,099 Brahman, and 1,719 Tropical Composite) and one commercial population (2,490 Santa Gertrude bulls). Measurements included standard semen evaluation (e.g. sperm motility and morphology) and SC. In the research data, we also measured sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm protamine deficiency for about 50% of the bulls. Using a mixture of genomic and pedigree analyses, we estimated heritabilities and genetic correlations for all traits, in each population. Our analyses suggest that bull fertility traits have a heritable component, which makes selective breeding possible. The phenotype variation in sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm protamine deficiency traits also have a heritable component (h2 ~ 0.05–0.22). These first estimates for heritability of sperm chromatin phenotypes require further studies, with larger datasets, to corroborate present results. In all three populations, we observed genetic correlations across traits that were favorable, but not high. For example, the percentage of normal sperm (PNS) from the sperm morphology evaluation was positively correlated with SC. In the research data, sperm DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated with PNS (r2 ~ 0.23–0.33), meaning that bulls with a higher PNS had less DNA fragmentation, being therefore more fertile according to both indicators. Given the favorable and yet not high genetic correlations between traits, it is possible to envision that sperm chromatin phenotypes might form a panel, together with PNS and SC, for a comprehensive bull fertility index. Selection indices that include fertility traits are being implemented in the dairy industry and could be recommended for beef cattle, too. An index that benefits from the favorable genetic correlations between traits that describe different aspects of bull fertility is a sensible approach to selective breeding. The clinical use of complementary indicators for male fertility is largely accepted, when deciding on bull fitness for the mating season. We propose extending this rationale to create a multi-trait index that captures genetic merit for bull fertility. In addition, we performed genome-wide association analyses in the research data and identified eight QTLs in the X chromosome. Correlations and shared SNP associations support the hypothesis that these phenotypes have the same underlying cause: abnormal spermatogenesis. In conclusion, it is possible to improve bull fertility through selective breeding, by measuring complementary fertility traits. Genomic selection for bull fertility might be more accurate if the X chromosome mutations that underlie the discovered QTL are included in the analyses. Polymorphisms associated with fertility in the bull accumulate in the X chromosome, as they do in humans and mice, thus suggesting specialization of this chromosome.


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