title: Characterization of Nuclease Activity in Human Seminal Plasma and its Relationship to Semen Parameters, Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Male Infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some studies have shown that complementary biomarkers are needed in semen analysis to provide a more accurate diagnosis for couples with infertility problems. To our knowledge no study has been done to determine the relationships among nuclease activity in seminal plasma, semen parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation and male infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 94 semen samples were collected according to WHO 2010 semen analysis parameters. Samples were analyzed using the single radial enzyme diffusion method for nuclease activity in seminal plasma, and alkaline and neutral Comet assay for sperm DNA fragmentation. Samples were obtained from 11 fertile donors with proven fertility, 17 patients with normozoospermia in an infertile couple, and 16 patients with asthenozoospermia, 19 with teratozoospermia, 21 with asthenoteratozoospermia and 10 with azoospermia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nuclease activity analyzed in seminal plasma was higher in patients than in controls. It correlated with sperm motility and morphology, and sperm DNA fragmentation measured by the alkaline Comet assay. No correlation with sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by the neutral Comet assay. ROC curves to determine male infertility revealed 0.658 sensitivity, 0.727 specificity and 0.705 cm(2) AUC for the single radial enzyme diffusion method, 0.918, 1 and 0.994 cm(2) for the alkaline Comet assay, and 0.917, 0.250 and 0.373 cm(2), respectively, for the neutral Comet assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nuclease activity in seminal plasma corrected by sperm count is a good variable to predict male infertility. Results indicate that it could be a useful complementary parameter for male infertility diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Encinas
authors.affiliation: Centro de Infertilidad Masculina y Análisis de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Agustí
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Peiró
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribas-Maynou
authors.affiliation: Servei d'Urologia, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.affiliation: UDIAT, Centre Diagnòstic, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Institut Universitari Parc Taulí-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Amengual
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain. Electronic address: jordi.benet@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benet
mesh_terms: D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000201:enzymology*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013094:Spermatozoa
chemical_list: D004720:Endonucleases
keywords: DNA fragmentation; infertility; male; semen; sperm count; testis