title: Assessment of DNA fragmentation of spermatozoa that were surgically retrieved from men with obstructive azoospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the degree of DNA fragmentation in spermatozoa of men with obstructive azoospermia or anejaculation compared with that of ejaculated spermatozoa from fertile donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study. SETTING; University Medical Center St. Radboud, Nijmegen. The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one patients with obstructive azoospermia or anejaculation and 10 fertile donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm samples were obtained surgically from the epididymis or testis of men with azoospermia or anejeculation and by ejaculation in fertile patients. DNA fragmentation was analyzed in the total sample and in a motile fraction that was isolated as in routine ICSI procedures. DNA breaks were measured by using the TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher percentage of cells with DNA breaks was found in men with obstructive azoospermia or anejaculation compared with donors (mean, 18.9% vs. 6.2%). A significant lower degree of DNA fragmentation was observed in the motile fraction from patients compared with donors (0.4% vs. 0.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High percentages of cells with DNA damage were found in sperm samples from men with obstructive azoospermia or anejaculation, but a very low frequency of damage to the DNA was observed in the motile fraction. In an ICSI setting, the use of motile sperm retrieved from epididymis or testis of men with obstructive azoospermia does not seem to pose a higher genetic risk to the progeny than does use of motile ejaculated sperm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center St. Radboud, Geert Grooteplein 8, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.ramos@obgyn.azn.nl
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleingeld
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meuleman
authors.forename: Roelof
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Kooy
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Didi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braat
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wetzels
mesh_terms: D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology