Mitochondrial DNA integrity and copy number in sperm from infertile men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the integrity and copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in spermatozoa from infertile men. We also compared mtDNA integrity to nuclear DNA integrity.


METHODS
Observational.


METHODS
Tertiary care center.


METHODS
Semen samples were collected from 57 men, whose wives were undergoing in vitro fertilization, including 24 men with normal semen parameters.


METHODS
Quantitative long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR were used to measure mtDNA integrity and copy number in spermatozoa. We also measured nuclear DNA integrity of spermatozoa with flow cytometry after acridine orange staining.


RESULTS
A significant increase in mtDNA copy number and a decrease in mtDNA integrity were observed in the spermatozoa samples from patients with abnormal semen parameters compared to the patients with normal semen parameters. The integrity and copy number of mtDNA were significantly correlated with sperm count.


CONCLUSIONS
Mitochondrial DNA quantity and quality may serve as useful diagnostic markers of sperm quality in infertile men.
Song
Gyun Jee
GJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. Gyunjee.song@gmail.com
Lewis
Vivian
V
D000328:Adult; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D004261:DNA Replication; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial