Bulky DNA adducts in human sperm associated with semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
DNA adducts are widely used marker of DNA damage induced by environmental pollutants. The present study was designed to explore whether sperm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts were associated with sperm DNA integrity and semen quality.


METHODS
A total of 433 Han Chinese men were recruited from an infertility clinic. Immunofluorescence was applied to analyze sperm PAH-DNA adducts. Sperm DNA fragmentation was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (Tdt)-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay.


RESULTS
After adjustment for potential confounders using linear regression, sperm PAH-DNA adducts were negatively associated with sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity (VCL). In addition, a positive relationship between sperm PAH-DNA adducts and sperm DNA fragmentation was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested an inverse association between sperm PAH-DNA adducts and semen quality, and provided the first epidemiologic evidence of an adverse effect of PAH-DNA adducts on sperm DNA integrity.
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Toxicology/Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China. aihuagu@njmu.edu.cn.
Guixiang
G
Ji
Lifeng
L
Yan
Shengmin
S
Wu
Jining
J
Liu
Lei
L
Wang
Shenghu
S
Zhang
Lili
L
Shi
Aihua
A
Gu
D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000633:toxicity*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005839:Gentamicins; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D018736:DNA Adducts; D005839:Gentamicins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C095911:polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-DNA adduct