title: Recombinant human FSH reduces sperm DNA fragmentation in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
abstract: A prospective randomized controlled study was designed to evaluate the  effects of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) treatment on  sperm DNA fragmentation in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia  (iOAT). One hundred twenty-nine men with sperm count less than 10 ×  10(6) spermatozoa/mL and forward motility <25% were included;  normal serum levels of FSH, luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone, and no  other causes of infertility were enrolled. The patients were randomized into 2  groups: 65 men were treated on alternate days for 90 days with injections of  150 IU rFSH, and 64 subjects received nonantioxidant vitamin supplements. Main  outcome measures were serum levels of FSH, LH, testosterone, and inhibin B and  DNA fragmentation index (DFI) at baseline and after 90 days. No significant  differences were observed between the 2 groups with regard to sperm parameters  and hormone values. The DFI was similar between the 2 groups at the time of  the enrollment but reduced significantly (P < .05) after rFSH  therapy in study group, whereas no significant variation occurred in the  control group. In the subgroup of patients with high basal DFI values  (>15%), rFSH treatment significantly increased DFI (P < .01),  whereas no significant variation occurred after 90 days of vitamin  supplements. We conclude that rFSH administration improves sperm DNA integrity  in iOAT men with increased DFI values. The degree of sperm DFI might be useful  to identify those iOAT patients in which rFSH treatment can be  advantageous.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Second University of Naples, Via Tasso 133, 80127 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colacurci
authors.forename: Maria Gaia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornaro
authors.forename: Gaia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trotta
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Franciscis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone