title: Effects of highly purified follicle-stimulating hormone on sperm DNA damage in men with male idiopathic subfertility: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gonadotropins administration have been demonstrated effective for the treatment of idiopathic male infertility, even if no clear data regarding their specific mechanism of action on semen quality are at the moment available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of highly purified FSH (hpFSH) administration on standard semen parameters, sperm oxidative stress, and sperm chromatin structure and DNA fragmentation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current prospective baseline-controlled study, 36 subjects with male idiophatic infertility were enrolled. Baseline clinical and biochemical data were evaluated. Before and after 3 months of treatment with hpFSH, sperm samples were collected and standard semen analysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assessment and sperm DNA fragmentation were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant (p<0.05) improvement from baseline in standard seminal parameters was observed. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in sperm ROS levels and DNA fragmentation was observed. Statistically significant (p<0.05) correlations between variation in ROS levels and both seminal parameters and DNA fragmentation variations were detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three months of hpFSH administration seems to reduce ROS and DNA damage in subjects with male idiopathic subfertility improving semen parameters. Further evidences from well-designed randomized double-blind placebo- controlled studies are needed in order to confirm our preliminary results.
authors: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Via T. Campanella 182/I, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. stefanopalomba@tin.it
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Palomba
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Falbo
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Espinola
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rocca
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Capasso
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Cappiello
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Zullo
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