title: Seminal cell-free DNA levels measured by PicoGreen fluorochrome are associated with sperm fertility criteria.
abstract: Previous investigations suggested that elevated cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can indicate non-healthy states. However, the potential association between cfDNA seminal plasma levels and fertility sperm parameters has not yet been determined. Therefore, the present study evaluated the association between seminal cfDNA levels and sperm fertility criteria to determine the use of seminal cfDNA quantification. An in vivo protocol quantified cfDNA levels of semen samples obtained from 163 male patients using fluorescent PicoGreen dye staining. To confirm if semen cfDNA quantification is realistic, an in vitro complementary test was performed using three or four semen samples. The fresh sperm samples were exposed to paraquat that generates high levels of superoxide anion causing oxidative stress and cell mortality. The results showed significant association between dsDNA levels and several sperm fertility parameters, such as low viability and alterations of motility and morphology. The in vitro analysis confirmed the association between dsDNA levels and sperm viability. Together, these results suggest that dsDNA levels could be an important biomarker to test sperm fertility.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbisan
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica Toxicológica,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Assmann
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biogenômica,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: N K F
authors.initials: NKF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biogenômica,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biogenômica,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Signori
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biogenômica,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rogalski
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonadiman
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia,Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,Santa Maria-RS,Brazil.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Biogenômica. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.Av Roraima 1000,Prédio 19,Santa Maria-RS 97105900,Brazil.
authors.forename: I B M
authors.initials: IBM
authors.lastname: da Cruz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C099476:PicoGreen; D004247:DNA
keywords: Cell-free; DNA; Fertility; Sperm