Semen characteristics and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with low and high levels of seminal reactive oxygen species.

OBJECTIVE: To examine sperm motility, total antioxidant level (TAC), DNA fragmentation, and medical history in infertile men with high seminal high reactive oxygen species (ROS).
DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING(S): Tertiary care hospital. PATIENT(S): Infertile men (n=101). INTERVENTION(S): Group I (n=57) included men with seminal ROS (<250 relative light units/sec/×10(6) sperm) while group II (n=44) included men with seminal ROS levels (≥250 relative light units/sec/×10(6) sperm). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Seminal ROS, TAC, sperm DNA fragmentation, ROS/TAC score were measured. RESULT(S): Group II had a high incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation than group I. The odds ratio of 1.25 for elevated ROS levels corresponded to >10% greater DNA fragmentation in our patients (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.53). Group II showed poor motility, a higher incidence of leukocytospermia, and higher ROS-TAC scores compared with group I. ROS was negatively correlated with sperm curvilinear velocity (r=-.24), linearity (r=-.24), and sperm motility (r=-.31). Sperm motility was correlated with %TUNEL(+ve) sperm (r=-.39). CONCLUSION(S): An increase in seminal ROS levels by 25% was associated with a 10% increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm motility was affected by seminal ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation.