World J Mens Health.  2018 Sep;36(3):239-247. 10.5534/wjmh.180014.

Abnormal Human Sperm Parameters Contribute to Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Men with Varicocele

• Park YS
• Lee SH
• Choi HW
• Lee HS
• Lee JS
• Seo JT

• KMID: 2419324
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.180014

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was performed to evaluate and compare threshold sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and further analyzed whether sperm DFI could be predicted from sperm parameters in men with varicocele.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 157 semen samples underwent both semen analysis and sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing in men with varicocele. Sperm parameters were assessed using the World Health Organization guidelines. SDF testing was performed using the Halosperm kit. Sperm parameters and sperm DFI results were compared.
RESULTS
The overall sperm parameter results and sperm DFI showed normal values; however, the morphology value was at the lower limit of normal. High sperm DFI was associated with significantly lower motility and viability (p < 0.001, respectively). Sperm motility and morphology were significantly higher in the higher sperm count group compared to the lower sperm count group (p < 0.05), while sperm DFI was higher in the lower sperm count group (p < 0.05). Sperm count and viability and sperm DFI were significantly associated with the quality of sperm motility (p < 0.001). Sperm motility and sperm DFI were significantly different (p < 0.001) between normal and abnormal sperm viability groups. Between normal and abnormal sperm morphology groups, sperm count, motility, and sperm DFI showed significant differences (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, a correlation between SDF and sperm parameters was confirmed in men with varicocele. SDF may be contributing factors to sperm motility, viability, and morphology. Abnormal sperm count, motility, and viability showed high sperm DFI. Therefore, lower sperm parameters were indicative of increasing SDF in men with varicocele.

Keyword

DNA fragmentation; Infertility; Semen analysis; Sperm; Spermatogenesis; Varicocele

MeSH Terms

DNA Fragmentation*
DNA*
Humans*
Infertility
Male
Reference Values
Semen
Semen Analysis
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility
Spermatogenesis
Spermatozoa*
Varicocele*
World Health Organization
DNA

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Sperm viability test using eosin-nigrosin staining. Viable sperm heads were unstained and non-viable sperm heads were stained redpink (×400).

• 

  Fig. 2 Evaluation of sperm morphology using Papanicolaou staining (×1,000).

• 

  Fig. 3 Determination of sperm DNA fragmentation using the sperm chromatin dispersion test at magnifications of (A) ×200 and (B) ×400. For visualization, Diff-Quik staining was used. The arrows indicate a sperm without fragmentation (normal sperm) and the arrowheads indicate a sperm with fragmentation (DNA fragmented sperm).

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