Journal of Fertilization: In Vitro - IVF-Worldwide, Reproductive Medicine, Genetics & Stem Cell Biol
Open Access

Abstract

Sperm DNA Fragmentation Assays Correlate with Sperm Abnormal Morphology and the Pregnancy Outcome

Adriana Fortunato, Rita Leo, Sofia Casale, Giuseppina Nacchia, Francesca Liguori and Elisabetta Tosti

Purpose: A retrospective study of 89 hypo-fertile male patients attending for in vitro fertilization was undertaken in order to evaluate possible correlations among sperm DNA damage, sperm analysis parameters and pregnancies.
Methods: Sperm parameters (concentration, normal morphology and multiple anomalies) were evaluated according to the World Health Organization guidelines. DNA damages were simultaneously evaluated on each sperm sample by i) sperm chromatin decondensation test; ii) sperm DNA fragmentation evaluated by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion and Halo sperm Kit; iii) sperm DNA fragmentation evaluated by the Terminal Uridine Nick-End Labelling procedure.
Results: Statistical analysis was performed by using analysis of variance and least squares regression.
The sperm chromatin dispersion and fragmentation assays showed a statistically significant positive correlation (P=0.0017) in all the samples confirming the good efficacy of either of the two tests in detecting sperm DNA damage. Both the two test negatively correlated with normal sperm morphology (P=0.008), however only by using Halo sperm test we obtained a significant correlation with multiple sperm pathological morphologies (P=0.029) and an inverse correlation with pregnancies outcome (P=0.013). No correlation was detected among DNA damages, sperm concentration and chromatin decondensation.
Conclusions: These data suggest a similar efficacy of sperm chromatin dispersion and Terminal Uridine Nick-End Labelling in detecting sperm DNA integrity. Due to the higher sensitivity of Halo test, its prognostic role in the diagnosis of fertilizing ability of a semen sample and possible pregnancy rate is discussed