Fatma Atig1,2,3, Abdelhamid Kerkeni4, Ali Saad5,6, Mounir Ajina5,6. 1. Unit of Reproductive Medicine, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia. atigfatma@hotmail.fr. 2. Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia. atigfatma@hotmail.fr. 3. Research Laboratory of "Trace elements, free radicals and antioxidants", Biophysical Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. atigfatma@hotmail.fr. 4. Research Laboratory of "Trace elements, free radicals and antioxidants", Biophysical Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. 5. Unit of Reproductive Medicine, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia. 6. Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and enzymatic antioxidant status in seminal plasma of Tunisian fertile and infertile men in order to assess the effects of seminal oxidative stress on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality. METHODS: Semen samples from 100 infertile patients (40 oligoasthenoteratozoospermics, 31 teratozoospermics and 29 asthenozoospermics) and 50 fertile men (controls) were analyzed for DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay and biochemical parameters. Seminal antioxidant activities (Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase) and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Sperm DNA fragmentation and malondialdehyde levels in infertile groups were more elevated than controls. Nevertheless, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in abnormal groups compared to normozoospermics. Sperm DNA fragmentation was closely and positively correlated to malondialdehyde levels (r = 0.37, P = 0.008); meanwhile, reduced seminal antioxidant profile was negatively associated to sperm DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, we noted also that sperm DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated to sperm motility (r = -0.54, P < 0.001) and positively associated to the abnormal sperm morphology (r = 0.57, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This report revealed that increased sperm DNA fragmentation can be due to the impaired seminal enzymatic antioxidant profile and increased Lipid peroxidation. Our results sustain that the evaluation of sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal oxidative biomarkers in infertile men is recommended as a consistent prognostic tool for male infertility assessment.
PURPOSE: To evaluate levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and enzymatic antioxidant status in seminal plasma of Tunisian fertile and infertile men in order to assess the effects of seminal oxidative stress on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality. METHODS: Semen samples from 100 infertile patients (40 oligoasthenoteratozoospermics, 31 teratozoospermics and 29 asthenozoospermics) and 50 fertile men (controls) were analyzed for DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay and biochemical parameters. Seminal antioxidant activities (Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase) and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Sperm DNA fragmentation and malondialdehyde levels in infertile groups were more elevated than controls. Nevertheless, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in abnormal groups compared to normozoospermics. Sperm DNA fragmentation was closely and positively correlated to malondialdehyde levels (r = 0.37, P = 0.008); meanwhile, reduced seminal antioxidant profile was negatively associated to sperm DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, we noted also that sperm DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated to sperm motility (r = -0.54, P < 0.001) and positively associated to the abnormal sperm morphology (r = 0.57, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This report revealed that increased sperm DNA fragmentation can be due to the impaired seminal enzymatic antioxidant profile and increased Lipid peroxidation. Our results sustain that the evaluation of sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal oxidative biomarkers in infertile men is recommended as a consistent prognostic tool for male infertility assessment.
Entities:
Keywords:
Antioxidants; Male infertility; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species; Seminal plasma; Sperm DNA fragmentation
Authors: Ramadan A Saleh; Ashok Agarwal; David R Nelson; Essam A Nada; Mohammed H El-Tonsy; Juan G Alvarez; Anthony J Thomas; Rakesh K Sharma Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Ramadan A Saleh; Ashok Agarwal; Essam A Nada; Mohamed H El-Tonsy; Rakesh K Sharma; Andrew Meyer; David R Nelson; Anthony J Thomas Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Monis Bilal Shamsi; Rakesh Kumar; Audesh Bhatt; R N K Bamezai; Rajeev Kumar; Narmada P Gupta; T K Das; Rima Dada Journal: Indian J Urol Date: 2008-04