• PMID: 15897967
• Gene Name: DECR1
• Condition: Male infertility, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 13
• Population details: 13 (7 men undergoing infertility screening, 6 donors)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: NADPH
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa

Novel association between sperm deformity index and oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in infertile male patients

Said TM, Aziz N, Sharma RK, Lewis-Jones I, Thomas AJ Jr, Agarwal A.

AIM: To investigate the impact of abnormal sperm morphology using the sperm deformity index (SDI) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and its correlation with sperm DNA damage. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from men undergoing infertility screening (n = 7) and healthy donors (n = 6). Mature spermatozoa were isolated and incubated with 5 mmol/L beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) for up to 24 h to induce ROS. Sperm morphology was evaluated using strict Tygerberg's criteria and the SDI. ROS levels and DNA damage were assessed using chemiluminescence and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated fluorescein-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively. RESULTS: SDI values (median [interquartiles]) were higher in patients than donors (2 [1.8, 2.1] vs. 1.53 [1.52, 1.58], P = 0.008). Aliquots treated with NADPH showed higher ROS levels (1.22 [0.30, 1.87] vs. 0.39 [0.10, 0.57], P = 0.03) and higher incidence of DNA damage than those not treated (10 [4.69, 24.85] vs. 3.85 [2.58, 5.10], P = 0.008). Higher DNA damage was also seen following 24 h of incubation in patients compared to donors. SDI correlated with the percentage increase in sperm DNA damage following incubation for 24 h in samples treated with NADPH (r = 0.7, P = 0.008) and controls (r = 0.58, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: SDI may be a useful tool in identifying potential infertile males with abnormal prevalence of oxidative stress (OS)-induced DNA damage. NADPH plays a role in ROS-mediated sperm DNA damage, which appears to be more evident in infertile patients with semen samples containing a high incidence of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. FAU - Said, Tamer M AU - Said TM AD - Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute, Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk A19.1, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. FAU - Aziz, Nabil AU - Aziz N FAU - Sharma, Rakesh K AU - Sharma RK FAU - Lewis-Jones, Iwan AU - Lewis-Jones I FAU - Thomas, Anthony J Jr AU - Thomas AJ Jr