Fluctuation of "sperm DNA integrity" in accordance with semen parameters, and it's relationship with infertility

Abstract

Purpose: Nowadays sperm analysis is used routinely to assess infertile men, but it's predictive value is still restricted. For this reason, new markers are needed for diagnosis and guide treatment. A DNA damage evaluation method, which is easily applicable for routine analysis is described in this paper to provide an important support in clinical evaluation.

Methods: In this study, DNA damage evaluation was planned in infertile males with the COMET assay, a method which is simple, cheap, sensitive and reliable. For this purpose, the sperm DNA damage of normospermic, oligospermic, asthenospermic and teratospermic cases were investigated and the relationship between sperm parameters (sperm count, motility, morphology) and DNA damage was assessed.

Results and conclusion: According to our results we suggest that the factors to blame for sperm DNA damage and semen quality are the same. Also it was found that the infertile males possess substantially more sperm DNA damage than fertile men do. Improving and using the DNA damage evaluation tests seem to improve the results in ART clinics.

Fig. 1

Comet Assay gel representative images per study group

Fig. 2

Boxplot representation of % Tail DNA values in groups. Mean ± SD for normospermic, teratospermic, oligospermic and asthenospermic goups are 7,21 ± 7,52; 35,69 ± 32,08; 47,69 ± 26,59; 52,88 ± 35,45 respectively

Fig. 3

Boxplot representation of Tail Moment values in groups. Mean ± SD for normospermic, teratospermic, oligospermic and asthenospermic goups are 17,74 ± 25,29; 78,05 ± 95,96; 88,12 ± 77,07; 69,78 ± 56,85 respectively

Fig. 4

The relationship between % Tail DNA and Tail Moment

Fig. 5

ROC curve comparing the comet measurements “% Tail DNA and Tail Moment”