title: The effects of antioxidant supplementation during Percoll preparation on human sperm DNA integrity.
abstract: The integrity of sperm DNA is crucial for the maintenance of genetic health. A major source of damage is reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation; therefore, antioxidants may afford protection to sperm DNA. The objectives of the study were, first, to measure the effects of antioxidant supplementation in vitro on endogenous DNA damage in spermatozoa using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay and, second, to assess the effect of antioxidant supplementation given prior to X-ray irradiation on induced DNA damage. Spermatozoa from 150 patients were prepared by Percoll centrifugation in the presence of ascorbic acid (300, 600 microM), alpha tocopherol (30, 60 microM), urate (200, 400 microM), or acetyl cysteine (5, 10 microM). DNA damage was induced by 30 Gy X-irradiation. DNA strand breakage was measured using the comet assay. Sperm DNA was protected from DNA damage by ascorbic acid (600 microM), alpha tocopherol (30 and 60 microM) and urate (400 microM). These antioxidants provided protection from subsequent DNA damage by X-ray irradiation. In contrast, acetyl cysteine or ascorbate and alpha tocopherol together induced further DNA damage. Supplementation in vitro with the antioxidants ascorbate, urate and alpha tocopherol separately has beneficial effects for sperm DNA integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Queens University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: McKelvey-Martin
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011205:Povidone; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014810:Vitamin E; D014527:Uric Acid; C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004247:DNA; D011205:Povidone; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D000111:Acetylcysteine