title: Relationship of sperm DNA fragmentation, apoptosis and dysfunction of mitochondrial membrane potential with semen parameters and ART outcome after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of DNA damage, apoptosis and dysfunction of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in ejaculated spermatozoa with semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and normal morphology) and to evaluate their effects on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen parameters in 120 infertile couples who underwent ICSI treatment were routinely analyzed and examined for the incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation (DF) by the sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD). Whereas the incidences of sperm apoptosis and dysfunction of MMP were assessed by flow cytometry. The correlation among different sperm factors and ART outcomes was evaluated statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sperm parameters were negatively related to DF (motility and normal morphology, p < 0.01), apoptosis (concentration, motility and normal morphology, p < 0.01, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, p < 0.01 respectively), and dysfunction of sperm MMP (concentration, motility and normal morphology, p < 0.01). DF also showed a positive correlation with apoptosis and dysfunction of sperm MMP (p < 0.05, and p < 0.01 respectively). However, there was no significant correlation among DF, apoptosis and dysfunction of sperm MMP with ART outcomes, except early apoptosis which showed significant (p < 0.05) negative correlation with pregnancy rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the present study; DF, apoptosis and dysfunction of sperm MMP indicated negative relationship with sperm parameters. Although there was a negative correlation between early apoptosis and pregnancy rate, no significant correlation was observed between these parameters and ICSI outcomes.
authors: Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, PO Box 19395-4644 Tehran, Iran. m_sharbatoghli@yahoo.com
authors: Mina
authors: M
authors: Sharbatoghli
authors: Mojtaba Rezazadeh
authors: MR
authors: Valojerdi
authors: Massoud
authors: M
authors: Amanlou
authors: Fariba
authors: F
authors: Khosravi
authors: Mohammad Asghari
authors: MA
authors: Jafar-abadi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D013076:Sperm Count; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology