title: Sperm DNA fragmentation in Italian couples with recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: The aetiopathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to investigate the male factor in Italian couples experiencing RPL following natural conception. The study investigated 112 men from RPL couples and two control groups: 114 infertile men with one or more impaired semen parameters and 114 fertile men with high-quality semen parameters. Semen parameters were examined according to WHO criteria. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) was evaluated using TdT-mediated dUDP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assay. With the exception of ejaculate volume, the seminal profile of patients with RPL was similar to that of fertile patients and better than the infertile ones. Despite good spermatogenesis, however, sperm DNA integrity was impaired in the RPL group, with SDF values significantly higher than in fertile controls (18.8 ± 7.0 versus 12.8 ± 5.3, P < 0.001) and similar to those of infertile patients. SDF also showed a positive correlation with the age of patients with RPL and number of miscarriages. The results suggest a correlation between increased SDF and impaired reproductive capacity in terms of both fertilization and pregnancies carried to term, but high SDF cannot yet be considered a predictive factor for the risk of RPL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carlini
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pelloni
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faja
authors.affiliation: RPL Sterility Unit, ASL Roma C, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dal Lago
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy. Electronic address: francesco.lombardo@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gandini
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: male infertility; miscarriage; semen quality; sperm DNA integrity; spermatozoa