Sandra Lara-Cerrillo1, Jordi Ribas-Maynou2, Candela Rosado-Iglesias1, Tania Lacruz-Ruiz1, Jordi Benet2, Agustín García-Peiró3. 1. CIMAB, Barcelona Male Infertility Centre, C/Vallcorba 1A-3A, Sant Quirze del Vallès, 08192, Barcelona, Spain. 2. Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), M Building, Av/ de Can Domènech, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain. 3. CIMAB, Barcelona Male Infertility Centre, C/Vallcorba 1A-3A, Sant Quirze del Vallès, 08192, Barcelona, Spain. info@cimab.es.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To detect a possible bias in sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing when performed on semen samples or on those few spermatozoa selected for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatments. METHODS: A multimethodological analysis of Single- and Double-Strand DNA Breaks (SSB and DSB, respectively) was performed through the Neutral Comet, the Alkaline Comet, the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) and the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labelling (TUNEL) assays. SDF was evaluated in (i) semen samples from 23 infertile patients (not achieving pregnancy or suffering recurrent miscarriage); (ii) samples after a Swim-up and (iii) spermatozoa microselected for ICSI (ICSI-S). RESULTS: The analysis of 3217 ICSI-S revealed a significant reduction of SSB values compared to the Ejaculate and the Swim-up samples. On the contrary, DSB values were not reduced after any sperm selection method. The No-pregnancy group presented poorer semen parameters and higher SSB values. The Recurrent miscarriage group presented better semen parameters but also higher DSB values. CONCLUSION: The analysis of SDF on semen samples may not be fully representative of those few spermatozoa selected for ICSI. Since oxidative stress impairs sperm motility and causes SSB, selecting a motile sperm may intrinsically imply choosing a sperm not affected by this damage. DSB have an enzymatic origin which does not affect motility, making it difficult to select a sperm without this damage. Therefore, ICSI treatments could be effective in patients presenting high SSB values. Patients presenting high DSB values should expect bad ICSI results if this damage is not reduced through other specific methods.
PURPOSE: To detect a possible bias in sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing when performed on semen samples or on those few spermatozoa selected for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatments. METHODS: A multimethodological analysis of Single- and Double-Strand DNA Breaks (SSB and DSB, respectively) was performed through the Neutral Comet, the Alkaline Comet, the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) and the Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labelling (TUNEL) assays. SDF was evaluated in (i) semen samples from 23 infertile patients (not achieving pregnancy or suffering recurrent miscarriage); (ii) samples after a Swim-up and (iii) spermatozoa microselected for ICSI (ICSI-S). RESULTS: The analysis of 3217 ICSI-S revealed a significant reduction of SSB values compared to the Ejaculate and the Swim-up samples. On the contrary, DSB values were not reduced after any sperm selection method. The No-pregnancy group presented poorer semen parameters and higher SSB values. The Recurrent miscarriage group presented better semen parameters but also higher DSB values. CONCLUSION: The analysis of SDF on semen samples may not be fully representative of those few spermatozoa selected for ICSI. Since oxidative stress impairs sperm motility and causes SSB, selecting a motile sperm may intrinsically imply choosing a sperm not affected by this damage. DSB have an enzymatic origin which does not affect motility, making it difficult to select a sperm without this damage. Therefore, ICSI treatments could be effective in patients presenting high SSB values. Patients presenting high DSB values should expect bad ICSI results if this damage is not reduced through other specific methods.
Authors: G Anifandis; T Bounartzi; C I Messini; K Dafopoulos; R Markandona; S Sotiriou; A Tzavella; I E Messinis Journal: Andrologia Date: 2014-03-12 Impact factor: 2.775
Authors: Theofania Bounartzi; Konstantinos Dafopoulos; George Anifandis; Christina I Messini; Chrysoula Koutsonikou; Spyros Kouris; Maria Satra; Sotirios Sotiriou; Nicholas Vamvakopoulos; Ioannis E Messinis Journal: Hum Fertil (Camb) Date: 2016-03-23 Impact factor: 2.767