Standard Semen Parametersvs.Sperm Kinematics to Predict Sperm DNA Damage

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study were to associate sperm kinematics and standard semen parameters with sperm DNA damage and to evaluate whether the addition of sperm kinematics improve the multivariable prediction of sperm DNA fragmentation compared to standard semen parameters alone. Materials and Methods: We evaluated sperm kinematics, standard semen parameters, and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in 122 men. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate the association of sperm kinematics and standard semen parameters with pathologically damaged sperm DNA (DFI≥26%), and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were calculated for these models. Results: On univariate analyses, average velocity, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, straightness (STR), beat-cross frequency (BCF), and the percentage of progressive motile sperm cells (PPMS) were significantly associated with pathologically damaged sperm DNA. Likewise, among standard semen parameters, sperm concentration, progressive motility, normal morphology, and vitality were found to be linked with sperm DNA damage. On the multivariate analysis, vitality was the strongest predictor of pathologically damaged sperm DNA with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 88.3%. Adding STR, BCF, and PPMS to vitality increased the AUROC to the significant extent of 91.5%. Conclusions: Sperm vitality is the most accurate routine-based laboratory test for the prediction of pathologically damaged sperm DNA, but the addition of sperm kinematics increases its accuracy. Both standard semen parameters and sperm kinematics are complementary in predicting pathologically damaged sperm DNA, and might serve as a new tool to screen for fertile men.

Semiquantitative promoter methylation ofMLH1andMSH2genes and their impact on sperm DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation in infertile men

“…In another study, among 272 infertile men who sought for treatment SDF evaluated by TUNEL was found to be negatively correlated with sperm concentration, progressive motility but not correlated with normal morphology (Amor, Shelko, Hamad, Zeyad, & Hammadeh, 2019). Also some studies showed a strong relationship between vitality and SDF (Aghazarian, Huf, Pfluger, & Klatte, 2019. The differences in the number and features of selected patient groups may have caused this confliction between the results.…”

Necrozoospermia: The tree that hides the forest

“…Aghazarian et al 33 showed that sperm vitality is independently associated with SDF when analysed by the SCD test and that vitality is the strongest predictor of damaged sperm DNA (Area Under Curve = 0.833, 95% CI = 0.815; 0.95). Homa et al 34 focused on the relationship between seminal oxidative stress with SDF and vitality.…”

“…2 Decreased sperm vitality is often associated with higher rates of SDF. [32][33][34][35] Samplaski's team 4,32 reported a correlation between the degree of necrozoospermia and the rates of SDF.…”

“…ROS capable of penetrating sperm membrane can impair sperm DNA integrity by directly attacking DNA or by triggering the apoptotic cascade. 33,34 Apart from oxidative stress, other mechanisms such as abortive apoptosis and chromatin condensation defects could generate SDF. 34,36,37…”

Opportunities and Limits of Conventional IVF versus ICSI: It Is Time to Come off the Fence

“…Specific sperm kinematic factors are also taken into consideration when performing c-IVF. Among those, sperm curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), measured using computer-assisted analysis, have been shown to be efficiently able to anticipate c-IVF outcome [ 126 ]. VSL and VCL could be implemented as a prognostic value in order to predict the fertilization potential of the semen sample.…”