title: Potential adverse effect of sperm DNA damage on embryo quality after ICSI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sperm DNA damage is prevalent amongst infertile men and has been shown to strongly impact adversely natural reproduction, intrauterine insemination-assisted reproduction and to a lesser degree IVF/ICSI fertilization. The objective of this study was to examine further the relationship between sperm DNA denaturation (DD) and reproductive outcomes after ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated infertile couples (n = 60) undergoing IVF/ICSI at a single centre. Sperm DD was assessed by flow cytometry analysis of Acridine Orange-treated sperm and expressed as the percentage of sperm with DD. Couples were sub-grouped according to sperm DD results: group 1: 0-15%; group 2: >15-30%; group 3: >30%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between the three groups with regard to maternal age, sperm parameters, oocyte maturation, fertilization or pregnancy rates. Group 3 had a significantly higher rate of multinucleation among the embryo cohorts compared to either groups 1 or 2 (20% versus 10% and 8% respectively, P = 0.04). There was a statistically insignificant trend toward an increased spontaneous pregnancy loss rate in group 3 (P =0.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we did not observe significant relationships between sperm DNA damage and either fertilization or pregnancy rates, the potential adverse effect of sperm DNA damage on embryo quality and spontaneous pregnancy loss is concerning.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. armand.zini@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meriano
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kader
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jarvi
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Laskin
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cadesky
mesh_terms: D000165:Acridine Orange / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004249:DNA Damage; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D004247:DNA; D000165:Acridine Orange