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. 2000 Oct;74(4):824-7.
doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(00)01495-3.

Influence of initial semen quality on the integrity of human sperm DNA following semen processing

A Zini  1 , R K Nam, V Mak, D Phang, K Jarvi
Affiliations
Free article

Influence of initial semen quality on the integrity of human sperm DNA following semen processing

A Zini et al. Fertil Steril. 2000 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

Objective: To examine and compare the effects of density-gradient centrifugation on the integrity of sperm DNA from the semen of both fertile and infertile men.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: University infertility clinic.

Patients: Forty-four nonazoospermic, infertile men and nine fertile controls.

Interventions: Semen samples were processed by density-gradient centrifugation. Sperm motility and sperm chromatin structure (evaluated by flow cytometry analysis of acridine orange-treated spermatozoa) were monitored before and after semen was processed.

Main outcome measures: Sperm motility and DNA integrity.

Results: Following density-gradient centrifugation, mean sperm motility (+/-SEM) improved significantly compared to whole semen in samples from fertile and infertile men, respectively (71 +/- 6 vs. 49 +/- 7% and 56 +/- 3 vs. 44 +/- 3%, P<0.05). However, the percentage of sperm with denatured DNA increased compared to whole semen after processing of samples from infertile (25 +/- 3 vs. 15 +/- 2%, P<0. 01) but not fertile men (9 +/- 3 vs. 8 +/- 2%, P>0.05).

Conclusions: Our data indicate that the potential detrimental effect of density-gradient centrifugation on sperm DNA integrity is related to the initial semen quality. These data urge us to examine our current sperm-processing techniques to minimize sperm DNA damage.

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Comment in

  • Decision to do IUI or IVF--sperm count?
    Dickey RP, Pyrzak R, Taylor SN, Rye PH, Lu PY, Sartor BM. Dickey RP, et al. Fertil Steril. 2001 Nov;76(5):1086-7. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(01)02530-4. Fertil Steril. 2001. PMID: 11704154 No abstract available.

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