DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations in various types of male factor infertility.
OBJECTIVE
To understand and delineate the nature and level of DNA damage in association to semen parameters in infertile men.


METHODS
A prospective experimental study.


METHODS
Alexandroupolis University General Hospital.


METHODS
Eleven fertile and 27 infertile men with various types of infertility.


METHODS
DNA damage was induced by addition of mitomycin C and caffeine to lymphocyte cultures.


METHODS
Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) levels were assessed in cultures providing a quantitative index of genotoxicity and chromosomal analysis was performed using G-banding and C-banding techniques.


RESULTS
Karyotyping analysis indicated chromosomal fragility, trisomic lines, and marker chromosomes in some infertile men. Double minute chromosomes were noticed in 11 infertile men and were positively correlated with elevated SCE levels. Necrospermia and varicocele, irrespectively of the degree of severity, were positively correlated with elevated SCE levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Infertile men are prone to have DNA damage; the nature and level of DNA damage varies and is associated with semen parameters. The presence of double minute chromosomes alone is associated with increased double-stranded breaks and abnormal sperm concentration. This study could provide the basis to establish whether and through which process double minute chromosomes could be related to poor semen parameters and regulation of DNA repair.
Papachristou
Fotini
F
Department of Genetics, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
Simopoulou
Maria
M
Touloupidis
Stavros
S
Tsalikidis
Christos
C
Sofikitis
Nikolaos
N
Lialiaris
Theodore
T
D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000633:toxicity; D048430:Cell Shape; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D007621:Karyotyping; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D013076:Sperm Count; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D009153:Mutagens; D002110:Caffeine; D016685:Mitomycin