Quantitative evaluation of p53 as a new indicator of DNA damage in human spermatozoa.
BACKGROUND
Sperm DNA integrity is considered an important parameter to assess seminal fluid quality and can be used as a predictive test of potential fertility. Amongst the various tests to determine sperm DNA integrity, one is the Acridine Orange test. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of p53 in maintaining sperm DNA integrity. The aim of this study was to assess if a p53 ELISA assay could be a new indicator of DNA damage in human spermatozoa.


METHODS
103 human semen samples were evaluated using both Acridine Orange test and p53 ELISA and results were compared.


RESULTS
A clear correlation between the values measured by two methods was obtained.


CONCLUSIONS
If this hypothesis will be confirmed by further studies, the p53 ELISA assay could become a new and more precise indicator of DNA damage in human spermatozoa.
Laboratory Research Gentile s.a.s. 80054 Gragnano, Napoli, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Raimondo
Laboratory Research Gentile s.a.s. 80054 Gragnano, Napoli, Italy.
Tommaso
T
Gentile
Laboratory Research Gentile s.a.s. 80054 Gragnano, Napoli, Italy.
Felice
F
Cuomo
Laboratory Research Gentile s.a.s. 80054 Gragnano, Napoli, Italy.
Stefania
S
De Filippo
Laboratory Research Gentile s.a.s. 80054 Gragnano, Napoli, Italy.
Gilda E
GE
Aprea
Reproduction Pathology Service, Medica Futura, 80045 Pompei, Napoli, Italy.
John
J
Guida
Acridine Orange test; P53; sperm DNA damage; sperm DNA fragmentation index