title: [Association of age with sperm DNA fragmentation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is an association between aging ana an increased number of sperms with alterations in nuclear DNA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the association between age and fragmentation of sperm DNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty two volunteers provided semen for analysis. These were separated in a group aged less than forty years and a second group aged more than forty years. Sperm DNA fragmentation was studied by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end-labeling) and SCD (sperm chromatin dispersion test) assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with their younger counterparts, patients aged more than 40 years had a higher proportion of sperms with DNA fragmentation by TUNEL (20 ± 1.3 and 24 ± 1.9% respectively, p < 0.05) and SCD (22 ± 1.4 and 26 ± 1.6% respectively, p < 0.05). The results of both assays had a correlation coefficient of O.8. No differences between groups were observed for other seminal parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm DNA fragmentation increases with age in males.
authors: Instituto de Investigaciones Materno Infantil, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Fabrizzio
authors: F
authors: Horta
authors: Marcia
authors: M
authors: Madariaga
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: García
authors: Steffen
authors: S
authors: Hartel
authors: Rosita
authors: R
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin