title: Effect of cryopreservation on sperm DNA integrity in patients with teratospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether sperm with abnormal head morphology are more likely to undergo DNA damage and/or chromatin modification during the process of freeze-thawing.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, the semen samples from forty-four men attending the infertility clinic were included. Samples were divided into aliquots to allow direct comparison of fresh and frozen spermatozoa from the same ejaculate. The sperm morphology and the sperm DNA damage were evaluated before and after cryopreservation. The relationship between sperm head abnormalities and freeze-thaw-induced DNA modification was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital fertility center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men attending infertility clinic for semen analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The normospermic and teratospermic semen samples were evaluated for DNA damage before and after cryopreservation by comet assay and acridine orange bindability test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elucidation of association between sperm morphologic defect and cryodamage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A threefold increase in the amount of DNA damage was observed in teratospermic samples compared with their normospermic counterparts, indicating a higher susceptibility of morphologically abnormal sperm to cryodamage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The susceptibility of morphologically abnormal sperm to DNA damage/chromatin modification during the freeze-thaw process is significantly higher than that of sperm with normal morphology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Guruprasad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kalthur
authors.forename: Satish Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Adiga
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Upadhya
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Pratap
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D020552:Comet Assay; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000473:pathology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA