title: DNA double strand breaks in human spermatozoa can be predictive for assisted reproductive outcome.
abstract: Sperm DNA status has been reported to predict fertility outcomes in infertile men. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling test (TUNEL) is the most widely used method to evaluate this; however, its prognostic value is still debated. One hundred infertile men undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and 61 fertile men were tested for sperm parameters, sex hormones and sperm DNA status by chromatin tests (acridine orange, aniline blue, decondensation) and by direct assays (TUNEL and phosphorylated histone H2AX-γH2AX). In both groups, the prognostic value of each parameter to predict assisted clinical pregnancy was compared. Sperm parameters (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), FSH levels (P < 0.05) and DNA status (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) were significantly different in participants compared with controls. Among infertile men, 47 had positive and 53 had ICSI outcome. Both chromatin analysis and TUNEL test were unable to distinguish individuals who had successful outcomes from those who failed ICSI treatments. γH2AX percentage and γH2AX fragmentation index were significantly higher in sperm from non-pregnant compared with pregnant couples (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). γH2AX assay is more predictive of ICSI outcome than TUNEL in infertile couples with male factor infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology and Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via G. Modena 9, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garolla
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology and Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via G. Modena 9, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cosci
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology and Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via G. Modena 9, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertoldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology and Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via G. Modena 9, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sartini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology and Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via G. Modena 9, 35121, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Erbeha
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boudjema
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Clinical Pathology and Unit for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Via G. Modena 9, 35121, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: carlo.foresta@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foresta
mesh_terms: D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: ICSI outcome; double strand breaks; male infertility; sperm DNA fragmentation; γH2AX