Sperm DNA fragmentation and standard semen parameters in algerian infertile male partners.
OBJECTIVE
To date, standard semen parameters have been the only parameters investigated in sperm samples of infertile men in Algeria. We investigated, for the first time, semen parameters according to sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) in these subjects.


METHODS
SDF was determined by a validated sperm chromatin dispersion test in 26 infertile men. Patients were split into two groups according to the SDF level estimated by the DNA fragmentation index (DFI): the low fragmentation group (LFG; LFG with DFI ≤18%) and high fragmentation group (HFG; HFG with DFI >18%). The standard semen parameters were measured in both groups.


RESULTS
We found that semen concentration and motility were negatively correlated with DFI (r=-0.65, r=-0.45, respectively; p<0.05), while morphology and semen volume were not correlated with it (r=0.24, r=-0.18, respectively; p>0.05). Comparison of the sperm concentration revealed that it was significantly higher in LFG than in HFG (37.57%±13.16% vs. 7.32%±3.59%, respectively; p<0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed regarding sperm motility and morphology.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that SDF correlates well with both sperm motility and concentration but not with morphology. Thus, we conclude that SDF evaluation provides additional information regarding sperm quality, and should be used as a complementary test for assessing semen characteristics in infertile males.
Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Hadj Lakhdar University, Batna, Algeria.
Sarah
S
Boushaba
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hadj Lakhdar University, Batna, Algeria.
Ghania
G
Belaaloui
DNA fragmentation; Semen; Semen analysis