title: Assessment of sperm DNA in patients submitted the assisted reproduction technology procedures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to produce data on sperm quality while maintaining the integrity of sperm DNA samples taken from patients submitted to in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures at our center, and determine whether increased levels of histones were associated with sperm DNA damage and decreased fertilization, cleavage, and pregnancy rates. Such findings might shed light on the physiology and outcomes of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen samples from 27 patients divided into two groups were analyzed. The case group included individuals offered IVF; the control group had subjects with normal spermograms. Sperm DNA structure was assessed through phosphorylated histone H2AX analysis by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with altered sperm parameters had more histones in sperm chromatin than the individuals with normal sperm parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that increased levels of histone in sperm chromatin do not affect embryo production, but affect the cleavage rate, embryo quality, and might thus reduce pregnancy rates. The integrity of the paternal genome is of paramount importance in the initiation and maintenance of a viable pregnancy in patients treated with assisted reproduction technology procedures. Further studies on sperm diagnostic tests at a nuclear level might improve the treatment offered to infertile couples.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Endogin, Bauru/SP.
authors.forename: Patrícia Miyuki
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Tsuribe
authors.affiliation: Clínica Endogin, Bauru/SP.
authors.forename: João Ferreira
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lima Neto
authors.affiliation: Blood Center, School of Medicine of the São Paulo State University at Botucatu/SP.
authors.forename: Marjorie de Assis
authors.initials: Mde A
authors.lastname: Golim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science School, São Paulo State University at Botucatu/SP.
authors.forename: Camila de Paula Freitas
authors.initials: Cde P
authors.lastname: Dell'Aqua
authors.affiliation: Clínica Endogin, Bauru/SP.
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.affiliation: Clínica Endogin, Bauru/SP.|Department of Urology, School of Medicine of the São Paulo State University at Botucatu/SP.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto Monte
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gobbo
mesh_terms: D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D004247:DNA
keywords: Fertilization; Histones; ICSI; Pregnancy; Sperm DNA; rate