Perspectives on the assessment of human sperm chromatin integrity

Apoptosis plays a significant role in regulating germ cell development by removing damaged germ cells from seminiferous tubules, thereby safeguarding the genome of a given species. The unique chromatin-packing process of the spermatozoon has important implications for both the development of male in...

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Published inFertility and sterility Vol. 102; no. 6; pp. 1508 - 1517
Main Authors Palermo, Gianpiero D., M.D., Ph.D, Neri, Queenie V., M.Sc, Cozzubbo, Tyler, B.Sc, Rosenwaks, Zev, M.D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2014
Subjects
Adult
Apoptosis - physiology
Chromatin
COMET
Comet Assay
DNA Damage
DNA Fragmentation
Female
follow-up of children
Humans
ICSI
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Infertility, Male - genetics
Internal Medicine
Male
Middle Aged
Obstetrics and Gynecology
SCD
SCSA
sperm DNA fragmentation
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Sperm Motility
Spermatozoa - physiology
TUNEL
ICSI
TUNEL
follow-up of children
SCD
COMET
SCSA
sperm DNA fragmentation
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Summary:Apoptosis plays a significant role in regulating germ cell development by removing damaged germ cells from seminiferous tubules, thereby safeguarding the genome of a given species. The unique chromatin-packing process of the spermatozoon has important implications for both the development of male infertility screening tests and understanding of sperm chromatin characteristics, which may affect assisted reproductive technology outcomes. Sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integrity tests have been proposed as a means to assess male gamete competence. Although these assays are currently gaining popularity, and are more often used as a supplement to traditional semen analysis, the point at which DNA damage occurs during spermiogenesis, and to what degree, remains to be elucidated. Here, we examined current studies of DNA fragmentation, to understand its origin and import, as well as its impact on pre- and post-implantation development. As the DNA fragmentation index is strongly correlated with the motility characteristics of a semen specimen, controlling for this factor may be helpful. Utilization of more sensitive assays, possibly on the actual spermatozoa used for insemination, may generate healthier conceptuses.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
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ISSN:0015-0282
1556-5653
DOI:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.10.008