DNA damage in prepared semen is negatively associated with semen quality and fertilisation rate in assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment

Bashar Altakroni, Helen Hunter, Greg Horne, Daniel R. Brison, Andrew C. Povey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sperm DNA contains a range of damage, both strand breaks and base damage, that can potentially affect reproductive health. This study aims to determine to what extent sperm DNA integrity and alkylation is associated with semen quality and assisted reproduction technology (ART) treatment outcomes, in particular fertilisation and cleavage rates. Male partners of couples attending for infertility treatment were recruited and DNA integrity (% tail DNA, sperm with either low (LDD) or high (HDD) levels) was measured by a neutral Comet assay; N7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG) DNA levels were measured by an immunoslotblot in sperm prepared by density gradient centrifugation. Associations between DNA damage, semen quality and ART treatment outcomes were assessed. N7-MedG levels were lower and the proportion of LDD sperm higher in the prepared sperm samples than that found in the neat samples. the proportion of HDD sperm and % tail DNA were significantly negatively associated and the proportion of LDD sperm positively associated with semen quality. Fertilisation, but not cleavage, rate nor live birth, was significantly negatively associated with N7-MedG levels, the proportion of HDD sperm and % tail DNA and was positively associated with the proportion of LDD sperm. These results confirm that DNA damage, even in prepared sperm, is associated with adverse semen quality and suggest that sperm DNA damage affects the early stages of embryo formation. DNA damage
Original languageEnglish
JournalHuman Fertility
Volume28
Issue number1
Early online date19 Dec 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Dec 2024

Keywords

  • DNA damage
  • DNA integrity
  • Comet assay
  • Semen quality
  • Fertilisation rate
  • ART outcomes

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