title: Quantitation by image analysis of global DNA methylation in human spermatozoa and its prognostic value in in vitro fertilization: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between sperm DNA methylation level and sperm characteristics and pregnancy rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study. Quantitation by image analysis of DNA methylation in sperm nucleus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Reproduction Biology, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infertile couples undergoing IVF-ET.
  
  
  METHODS
  The immunostaining of 5 methyl-cytosine was performed on the spare sperm suspension that was used for an assisted reproduction technology procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm characteristics according to World Health Organization criteria, sperm motility parameters with computer-assisted semen analysis, sperm DNA methylation level, and heterogeneity index (HI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sperm DNA methylation level and HI are correlated with sperm DNA characteristics. HI is negatively correlated with fertilization rate; sperm DNA methylation level is correlated with pregnancy rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DNA methylation level in human spermatozoa could be a new approach to evaluating the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize and lead to normal embryo development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Lyon, France. benchaib@rockefeller.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benchaib
authors.forename: Mounir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ajina
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lornage
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niveleau
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Guérin
mesh_terms: D015100:3,3'-Diaminobenzidine; D000328:Adult; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015100:3,3'-Diaminobenzidine; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid