OBJECTIVETo evaluate and compare standard sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in seminal ejaculates from men whose partners had a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and a control group of men who had recently established their fertility.

METHODSSemen samples from 85 patients with a history of RPL and 20 men with proven fertility were analyzed according to World Health Organization guidelines. Sperm DNA fragmentation was detected by sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD).

RESULTSA significant difference (P< 0.05) was observed in sperm motility but not other parameters between the two groups. The mean number of sperm cells with fragmented DNA, represented as DNA fragmentation index, was significantly increased in the RPL group [(34.99± 14.62)%] compared with controls [(10.82± 4.80)%].

CONCLUSIONThis study has indicated that sperm from men with a history of RPL have a higher incidence of DNA damage and poor motility compared with fertile males.

Abortion, Habitual ; etiology ; genetics ; Adult ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo identify the effects of overtraining on human sperm DNA.

METHODSMolecular epidemiological investigation of 249 men from different groups (training and non-training) was carried out by using flow cytometer to detect the integrity and damage of in situ DNA of sperm nucleus, and sperm chromatin structure assay was performed.

RESULTSThe average COMPalpha(t) in training group was 11.02% while that in control group was 5.90% (P < 0.01). COMPalpha(t) was significantly correlated with sperm activity (r = 0.41, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOvertraining could induce sperm DNA injury and affect sperm activity, thus to decrease the potentiality of reproduction.

Adult ; Chromatin ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Fragmentation ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate variation of sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in male partners of infertile couples.

METHODSA total of 539 males between April 2009 and April 2012 were analyzed. At least one repeated routine semen analysis and sperm DNA fragmentation test were performed for each sample by sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) analysis following World Health Organization guidelines. Coefficient of variation (CV) for DFI was calculated.

RESULTSRespectively, 1, 2, 3 and 4 repeated SCD analyses were carried out on 473, 59, 6 and 1 semen samples. The median interval between the first and repeated SCD measurements was 3.0 (1.0-11.0) months. For the first tested samples, the between-sample coefficient of variation (CVB) for DFI was 71.2%. A significant difference has been found between DFI of the first measurement and DFI of repeated measurement in 0.5 to 3 months, 3 to 12 months and 12 to 34 months (P< 0.01). Compared with the first test, 26.3% of males were on both sides of the cut-off point of 18%. The median within-subject coefficient of variation (CVw) for DFI of 539 men was 26.0% (12.6%-42.8%). And the median CVw DFI was significantly lower compared with CVw of sperm count, concentration, progressive motility and normal morphology (P< 0.01). Significant correlations were found between the CVw DFI and sperm count, concentration and interval among the samples (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDFI of male partners for infertile couples is a parameter with substantial variation, repeated SCD measurements are therefore recommended.

Adult ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic value of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) for male infertility.

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-nine males attending infertility clinic were classified into 157 primary infertile cases and 142 fertile controls. Semen analysis was performed as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). SDF was assessed by sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assay, and the results were expressed as DNA fragmentation index (DFI).

RESULTSThe DFI was significantly higher in infertile males than that in fertile controls [(17.1± 9.3)% vs. (14.2± 9.0)%](P< 0.01). No significant difference was detected in the age of male and female partners, seminal volume, sperm count, motility and morphology between infertile males and fertile controls (P> 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.861 [95% confidence interval (CI)= 0.814-0.907] for 15.1% of SDF. The threshold level of 15.1% was derived as cut-off value to discriminate infertile men from fertile controls. By this threshold, specificity was 88.2% and sensitivity was 81.8%. The 299 men were divided into group A (n= 120) with DFI≥ 15.1% and group B (n= 179) with DFI< 15.1% based on the cut-off value. The percentage of infertile men in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (79.2% vs. 34.6%) (P< 0.01). The odds ratio (OR) for infertility in the two groups was 7.2 (95%CI= 4.2-12.3).

CONCLUSIONSperms with high-level of DNA fragmentation can impair male fertility. DFI can be used as a good diagnostic marker for male infertility.

Adolescent ; Adult ; DNA ; metabolism ; DNA Fragmentation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; Young Adult

A site-directed mutant DNA fragment was synthesized and transfected into clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) stains to construct the transformants that contained the corresponding mutagenesis of regulation region of mtrR gene. According to the technique of gene splicing by overlap extension (SOEing), a DNA segment with specific mutagenesis was constructed by two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mutation fragments EF could be used for the next experiment in which the mutation NG strains were induced. By comparing the recombinant EF fragments to the corresponding DNA fragments of clinical NG strains, 2 of these were not compatible completely. The results of sequencing revealed that there was a 9 bp deletion between the 45 to 54 inverted repeat sequence localized within the mtrR promoter. It can be confirmed that the fragments EF are the specifically designed mutant fragments.
Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; DNA Fragmentation ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae/*genetics ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae/metabolism ; Recombination, Genetic ; Repressor Proteins/*genetics ; Sequence Deletion ; Transfection ; Transformation, Bacterial

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), age of male, various parameters of sperm, rates of fertilization, high quality embryo and pregnancy and implantation rates.

METHODSOne hundred and eleven infertile couples were selected randomly, and DFI was tested by flow cytometry for the sperm used for IVF. The patients were divided into different groups according to the DFI scores. The results of each group were analyzed.

RESULTSThe IVF normal fertilization was significantly lower in couples with sperm DFI over 10% (60.5%) than that in couples with DFI below 10% (70.1%) (P<0.05). Significantly positive correlation was found between DFI and the age of male (r=0.624, P<0.05). DFI was also significantly negatively correlated with the percentage of linearly progressive sperm (r=-0.360, P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the rates of high quality cleaved embryos, pregnancy and implantation rate and sperm DFI.

CONCLUSIONDFI scores are increased with male's age, and it can influence the sperm motility. DFI=10% can be considered as a critical point which can be used to estimate the clinical fertility rate of IVF. But it could not provide relative information about the rates of high quality embryos and pregnancy for infertile couples undergoing IVF procedure.

Adult ; Aging ; genetics ; physiology ; DNA Fragmentation ; Embryo Implantation ; genetics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Regression Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) on sperm DNA fragmentation and nucleoprotein transition.

METHODSBased on the recommended methods in the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen (5th ed), we conducted routine semen analysis for 65 CP/CPPS patients and 30 healthy men. We also analyzed the results of papanicolaou staining, sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm nucleoprotein transition.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control males, the CP/CPPS patients showed significant decreases in sperm concentration ([134.05 +/- 99.80] vs [94.75 +/- 92.07]) x 10(6)/ml, P <0.05), the percentage of morphologically normal sperm ([7.26 +/- 2.28] vs [5.61 +/- 3.40]%, P <0.05) and sperm progressive motility ([59.18 +/- 16.06] vs [47.68 +/- 17.62]%, P<0.05), but dramatic increases in sperm DNA fragmentation ([22.92 +/- 11.51] vs [43.58 +/- 17.07%, P<0.01) and sperm nucleoprotein transition ([23.26 +/- 5.97] vs [32.14 +/- 8.79]%, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONCP/CPPS significantly reduces sperm quality and male fertility.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Male ; Nucleoproteins ; genetics ; Prostatitis ; genetics ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Young Adult

Nowadays, the injury in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is well known to accumulate in various tissues with age. It's significant to further investigate and then apply it to estimation of the age at parenchymas.
Aging/physiology* ; Base Pair Mismatch/genetics* ; DNA Damage/physiology* ; DNA Fragmentation/genetics* ; DNA, Mitochondrial/physiology* ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters.

METHODSWe collected 535 semen samples, assessed sperm DNA damage by sperm chromatin dispersion test, and analyzed the correlation of sperm DNA damage and sperm-nucleoprotein transition with acrosin activity and seminal parameters according to the WHO criteria.

RESULTSStatistically significant differences were observed in sperm DNA damage among sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade a + b sperm (P < 0.01). Sperm DNA damage was positively correlated with age, sperm-nucleoprotein transition, sperm concentration and the percentage of grade d sperm (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), but negatively correlated with acrosin activity (P < 0.001). Stepwise linear regression analysis demonstrated that age, sperm concentration, the percentage of grade d sperm, sperm-nucleoprotein transition and acrosin activity were independent variables related to the DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The abnormality rates of sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity, sperm concentration and graded a + b sperm were significantly higher in the sperm DNA damage group (DFI > or = 30%) than in the normal control (DFI < 30%) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSperm DNA damage is closely related with sperm-nucleoprotein transition, acrosin activity and seminal parameters, which may become another important independent parameter for the evaluation of sperm quality.

Acrosin ; genetics ; Adult ; Chromatin ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; genetics ; Male ; Nucleoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo observe calf thymus DNA damage induced by potassium dichromate in combination with glutathione (GSH).

METHODSAtomic force microscope and ultraviolet spectrum (UV) were used to observe the alterations of the DNA ultrastructure and absorption spectrum.

RESULTSAtomic force microscopy revealed no breaks of the DNA strand in response to treatment with potassium dichromate alone, but when coupled with GSH at proper concentrations, potassium dichromate induced alterations in the DNA structure and DNA fragmentation. UV examination also confirmed these findings by showing increased absorption intensity of the maximum UV peak following combined treatment of the DNA with potassium dichromate and GSH.

CONCLUSIONThese morphological and spectrographic evidences verified the important role of GSH in mediating the generation of various tumor-inducing intermediate products of potassium dichromate.

Animals ; Cattle ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Damage ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Glutathione ; toxicity ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; methods ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; drug effects ; Potassium Dichromate ; toxicity ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet