title: [Study on sperm quality of males living in cold area].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Reproduction Center, 202nd Hospital of Shenyang Command, People's Liberation Army, Shenyang 110003, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Su-wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Hai-ou
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xi-liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin