title: Apoptotic sperm biomarkers and their correlation with conventional sperm parameters and male fertility potential.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between sperm apoptotic biomarkers and patient clinical characteristics, conventional sperm parameters and fertility potential.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm analysis, phospholipid asymmetry, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and DNA denaturation were assessed in 142 males of infertile couples. Seventy-three couples were allocated to the natural conception group, and 55 couples underwent IVF or ICSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DNA denaturation correlated positively with age and negatively with testicular volume (TV). MMP correlated negatively with BMI and FSH and positively with TV. Normal viable sperm correlated positively with TV and negatively with age, BMI and FSH. DNA denaturation was associated with a significantly lower natural pregnancy rate (OR 5.4, 95% CI:1.3-22, p = 0.011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm apoptosis is related to male age, BMI, testicular volume and FSH. Among the apoptotic markers, only DNA denaturation has been found to predict natural pregnancy better than conventional sperm parameters.
authors.affiliation: Andrology Centre, Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Šlajmerjeva 3, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. branko.zorn@kclj.si
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zorn
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Golob
authors.forename: Alojz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ihan
authors.forename: Andreja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopitar
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kolbezen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008875:Middle Aged; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone