Effects of reduced seminal enzymatic antioxidants on sperm DNA fragmentation and semen quality of Tunisian infertile men.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and enzymatic antioxidant status in seminal plasma of Tunisian fertile and infertile men in order to assess the effects of seminal oxidative stress on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality.


METHODS
Semen samples from 100 infertile patients (40 oligoasthenoteratozoospermics, 31 teratozoospermics and 29 asthenozoospermics) and 50 fertile men (controls) were analyzed for DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay and biochemical parameters. Seminal antioxidant activities (Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase) and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically.


RESULTS
Sperm DNA fragmentation and malondialdehyde levels in infertile groups were more elevated than controls. Nevertheless, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in abnormal groups compared to normozoospermics. Sperm DNA fragmentation was closely and positively correlated to malondialdehyde levels (r = 0.37, P = 0.008); meanwhile, reduced seminal antioxidant profile was negatively associated to sperm DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, we noted also that sperm DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated to sperm motility (r = -0.54, P < 0.001) and positively associated to the abnormal sperm morphology (r = 0.57, P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
This report revealed that increased sperm DNA fragmentation can be due to the impaired seminal enzymatic antioxidant profile and increased Lipid peroxidation. Our results sustain that the evaluation of sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal oxidative biomarkers in infertile men is recommended as a consistent prognostic tool for male infertility assessment.
Unit of Reproductive Medicine, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia. atigfatma@hotmail.fr.|Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia. atigfatma@hotmail.fr.|Research Laboratory of "Trace elements, free radicals and antioxidants", Biophysical Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia. atigfatma@hotmail.fr.
Fatma
F
Atig
Research Laboratory of "Trace elements, free radicals and antioxidants", Biophysical Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia.
Abdelhamid
A
Kerkeni
Unit of Reproductive Medicine, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia.|Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia.
Ali
A
Saad
Unit of Reproductive Medicine, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia.|Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia.
Mounir
M
Ajina
D000328:Adult; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000235:genetics*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014416:Tunisia
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidants; Male infertility; Oxidative stress; Reactive oxygen species; Seminal plasma; Sperm DNA fragmentation