Sperm DNA fragmentation levels in testicular sperm samples from azoospermic males as assessed by the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) in testicular sperm samples from patients with azoospermia either from spermatogenic failure or from duct obstruction. Several technologies can be applied in the evaluation of SDF, but given the ease and low costs, the sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD) has emerged as a promising standard.


METHODS
Prospective blind observational cohort study.


METHODS
University-affiliated private IVF setting.


METHODS
Azoospermic patients from couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.


METHODS
Testicular sperm extraction (TESE).


METHODS
We determined testicular SDF, and a basic comparison between nonobstructive (n = 22) and obstructive azoospermia (n = 40) was performed. We also correlated SDF with embryo quality and pregnancy outcome.


RESULTS
SDF in the testicular sperm of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia was significantly higher, 46.92% (SEM = 4.47), than that of patients with obstructive azoospermia, 35.96% (SEM = 2.63). A moderate relationship between embryo morphology and testicular SDF was detected. Logistic regression analysis of the effect of testicular SDF on pregnancy outcome revealed no significant effect (odds ratio = 1.015).


CONCLUSIONS
Ours is the first report of SDF analysis in testicular sperm by using SCD in azoospermia. This result suggests that spermatogenesis failure may result in a severe affectation of sperm DNA integrity. The degree of DNA fragmentation using the SCD test is not reflected in pregnancy chances, and the explanation could be that embryos have been selected.
Meseguer
Marcos
M
IVI, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain. marcos.meseguer@ivi.es
Santiso
Rebeca
R
Garrido
Nicolas
N
Gil-Salom
Manuel
M
Remohí
Jose
J
Fernandez
Jose Luis
JL
D053713:Azoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000379:methods; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology
D002843:Chromatin