title: Fragmentation of DNA in morphologically normal human spermatozoa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate DNA fragmentation in spermatozoa with normal morphological appearance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic tertiary center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fertile, subfertile, and infertile men were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-fluorescein nick-end labeling assay and morphology assessment by phase contrast in the swim-up fractions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Simultaneous assessment of the percentage of normally shaped sperm and DNA fragmentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No DNA fragmentation was found in spermatozoa with normal morphology in any of the samples from the fertile group. In only one sample from the subfertile group did we observed normally shaped sperm cells exhibiting DNA fragmentation. However, in all the samples from the infertile group, we observed normal spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation. Spermatozoa from this late group exhibited a high proportion of DNA damage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In infertile men with moderate and severe teratozoospermia, the spermatozoa with apparently normal morphology present in the motile fractions after swim-up may have DNA fragmentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia.
authors.forename: Conrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avendaño
authors.forename: Anahí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morshedi
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bocca
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehninger
mesh_terms: D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology