title: Relationship between ROS production, apoptosis and DNA denaturation in spermatozoa from patients examined for infertility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine the role of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inducing DNA damage in ejaculated spermatozoa.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined ejaculated spermatozoa from 31 patients examined for infertility and 19 healthy donors for apoptosis, production of ROS and DNA damage using annexin V binding, chemiluminescence assay and sperm chromatin structure assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of spermatozoa that underwent apoptosis in the whole ejaculate and mature fraction was higher in the patients than in the donors (P<0.001 and P=0.009, respectively). Levels of ROS in the whole ejaculate and immature fraction were higher in the patients than in the donors (P=0.002 and P=0.009). Apoptosis was significantly correlated with ROS within patients in the whole ejaculate [r (95% confidence interval)=0.53 (0.19-0.86)] and in the mature [0.71 (0.39-1.00)] and immature spermatozoa [0.75 (0.45-1.00)]. Only apoptosis and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were significantly correlated within patients in the whole ejaculate [0.57 (0.18-0.97)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DNA damage may be induced by oxidative assault. Apoptosis may not contribute significantly to the DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamed H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moustafa
authors.forename: Rakesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mascha
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hafez
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004247:DNA