title: Changes in DNA fragmentation during sperm preparation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection over time.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the DNA fragmentation of semen samples established by terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) after incubation in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and hyaluronic acid (HA) for different time periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Center for reproductive medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven semen samples from infertile patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen analysis and DNA fragmentation assays (TUNEL) were performed. Two groups were established: A) normal TUNEL (<20%); and B) Abnormal TUNEL (≥ 20%). TUNEL was performed in neat (T0), postgradient (TG), 1-hour postgradient (TG1), and 2-hour postgradient (TG2) samples and in TG2 samples after 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 hours of incubation in PVP or HA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TUNEL levels were significantly reduced after gradient separation compared with neat values. In group A, TUNEL levels were significantly higher in the TG2 + 1.5 hours in PVP and HA samples but did not reach abnormal levels. In group B, TUNEL levels were significantly higher in the TG2 + 1 hour in PVP and HA samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm DNA fragmentation significantly decreased after centrifugation gradient, regardless of the initial levels of the sample. Samples with TUNEL ≥ 20% were more susceptible to a significant increase in DNA fragmentation over time, with similar increases being observed over time for samples that were incubated in HA or PVP. These data may be relevant for sperm preparation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
authors.affiliation: CEGYR-Reproductive Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rougier
authors.forename: Heydy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uriondo
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papier
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Checa
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sueldo
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez Sedó
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors