Testicular spermatozoa have statistically significantly lower DNA damage compared with ejaculated spermatozoa in patients with unsuccessful oral antioxidant treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To compare DNA damage in ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa in patients with previously unsuccessful oral antioxidant treatment.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
University-affiliated teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twelve men with persistently high sperm DNA damage.


METHODS
Evaluation of DNA damage of ejaculated and testicular spermatozoa by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.


METHODS
The DNA damage of ejaculated spermatozoa compared with that of testicular spermatozoa, both samples collected on the day of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.


RESULTS
Ejaculated spermatozoa showed a threefold higher DNA damage when compared with testicular samples (39.7% +/- 14.8 vs. 13.3% +/- 7.3).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that in patients with previously unsuccessful oral antioxidant treatment the retrieved testicular spermatozoa had a lower degree of DNA damage compared with ejaculated sperm collected on the same day.
Moskovtsev
Sergey I
SI
Andrology Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. smoskovtsev@mtsinai.on.ca
Jarvi
Keith
K
Mullen
J Brendan M
JB
Cadesky
Kenneth I
KI
Hannam
Thomas
T
Lo
Kirk C
KC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000975:Antioxidants