Evaluation of Sperm DNA Fragmentation in  Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Patients Using Two Different Techniques: TUNEL and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion Assays: Evaluation of Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

Raziye Chegini; Mahshad Khodarahmian; Niloufar Ahmadian; Sadegh Shirian; Farnaz Khadivi; Shahrzad Zhaeentan; Maryam Salem; Narjes Feizollahi; Azim Hedayatpour; Mehdi Abbasi

doi:10.31661/gmj.v13i.3515

Authors

Raziye Chegini Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mahshad Khodarahmian Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Niloufar Ahmadian Department of Urology, faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sadegh Shirian 1-Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran /2-Shiraz Molecular Pathology Research Center, Dr Daneshbod Path Lab, Shiraz, Iran
Farnaz Khadivi 1-Shiraz Molecular Pathology Research Center, Dr Daneshbod Path Lab, Shiraz, Iran /2-Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
Shahrzad Zhaeentan Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Salem Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Narjes Feizollahi Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Azim Hedayatpour Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehdi Abbasi Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31661/gmj.v13i.3515

Keywords:

DNA Fragmentation; Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia; Sperm Chromatin Dispersion; Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling; Specificity; Sensitivity

Abstract

Background: Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is the most prevalent male infertility condition that is mainly caused by sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). This study compared the sensitivity and effectiveness of two different approaches for analyzing SDF in patients with OAT: sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Materials and Methods: In this study, which received ethical committee approval, participants were divided in to normal and OAT groups (n=20 for each). both TUNEL and SCD assays were used to analyze the sperm DNA fragmentation. And Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels was measured to determine levels of lipid peroxidation in the seminal plasma. Results: The TUNEL assay showed better ability to predict OAT patients than that of the SCD. For our patient population, the projected cut-off points for the DNA fragmentation index of 29% and 19% were reported using the TUNEL and SCD tests, respectively. Seminal levels of MDA were significantly higher in the OAT group (P=0.002) than that of control group. Conclusion: OAT patients showed higher MDA levels of seminal plasma and DNA fragmentation than the control group. Although sperm DNA fragmentation can be detected with high efficiency and sensitivity using both TUNEL and SCD assays, the TUNEL test was found to be a more accurate predictor for OAT patients.

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Evaluation of Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Patients Using Two Different Techniques: TUNEL and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion Assays