title: Mechanisms and clinical correlates of sperm DNA damage.
abstract: Among the different DNA anomalies that can be present in the male gamete, DNA fragmentation is the most frequent, particularly in infertile subjects. There is now consistent evidence that a sperm containing fragmented DNA can be alive, motile, morphologically normal and able to fertilize an oocyte. There is also evidence that the oocyte is able to repair DNA damage; however, the extent of this repair depends on the type of DNA damage present in the sperm, as well as on the quality of the oocyte. Thus, it is important to understand the possible consequences of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) for embryo development, implantation, pregnancy outcome and the health of progeny conceived, both naturally and by assisted reproductive technology (ART). At present, data on the consequences of SDF for reproduction are scarce and, in many ways, inconsistent. The differences in study conclusions might result from the different methods used to detect SDF, the study design and the inclusion criteria. Consequently, it is difficult to decide whether SDF testing should be carried out in fertility assessment and ART. It is clear that there is an urgent need for the standardisation of the methods and for additional clinical studies on the impact of SDF on ART outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiopathology, Andrology Unit, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamburrino
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchiani
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elia Marino
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cambi
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muratori
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*