title: Molecular evidence of apoptotic pathway activation in semen samples with high DNA fragmentation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Male infertility is diagnosed by semen parameters, such as concentration, motility and morphology; however, these are not sufficient for the prediction of male fertility capacity. In the clinical routine, several other sperm functions have been introduced, including the sperm DNA fragmentation test. The objective of the present study was to evaluate sperm chromatin integrity in semen samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCD) was used in ejaculates from men divided into five groups: normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, asthenozoospermic, oligoasthenozoospermic and cryptozoospermic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data obtained showed that the SCD percentage appeared to be significantly associated with oligozoospermia diagnosis. We also evaluated total testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and inhibin B serum hormonal levels in all samples examined, in order to assess whether DNA fragmentation increase could correlate with abnormal hormonal values. Finally we selected certain samples with an increasing DNA fragmentation and analyzed the molecular activated apoptotic pathways.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant relationship was found between caspase-3 activation and increased DNA fragmentation.
authors: Cardiomyology and Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy l_manente@yahoo.it.
authors: Lucrezia
authors: L
authors: Manente
authors: Private Clinic Malzoni, Urologic Section, Avellino, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Pecoraro
authors: Cardiomyology and Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Picillo
authors: Biodata s.r.l Clinical, Molecular and Genetics Laboratory, Salerno, Italy.
authors: Umberto
authors: U
authors: Gargiulo
authors: Biodata s.r.l Clinical, Molecular and Genetics Laboratory, Salerno, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Gargiulo
authors: Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Section of Human Anatomy, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: De Luca
authors: Cardiomyology and Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Politano
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Apoptotic pathway; DNA fragmentation; caspase; chromatin dispersion test (SCD); male infertility