[Study on sperm quality of males living in cold area].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects on male reproductive function working under cold area.


METHODS
After on site investigation, advanced molecular lab analysis-single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) and sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) which are combined with semen routine analysis were used to evaluate semen quality and sperm sub-clinical injury.


RESULTS
Semen routine analysis showed that the semen parameters of the males working in cold area were within normal range, but level I comet cell percentage in SCGE increased significantly, which was 4.4%, compared to the contrast group (1.9%) with significant difference. During sperm chromatin structure assay parameters, comp alpha t increased, with an average value of 22.26%. The two kinds of results both showed single and double strand breakages in sperm.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term exposure to cold could induce sperm DNA injury, but not affect sperm quality. The results suggested that it was important to reinforce the reproductive care in males working in cold areas.
Ding
Xiao-ping
XP
Reproduction Center, 202nd Hospital of Shenyang Command, People's Liberation Army, Shenyang 110003, China.
Yan
Su-wen
SW
Zhang
Ning
N
Dong
Wei
W
Lu
Hai-ou
HO
Tang
Jie
J
Wang
Xi-liang
XL
D000328:Adult; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry; D003081:Cold Climate; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology
D002843:Chromatin