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Dynamic assessment of human sperm DNA damage I: the effect of seminal plasma-sperm co-incubation after ejaculation

  • Urology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Aim

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of seminal plasma in human ejaculates on the sperm DNA quality and DNA longevity.

Methods

Semen samples for this study were obtained from 20 donors with a normal spermiogram. Following centrifugation, the sperm pellet was resuspended either in the seminal plasma proceeding from its respective donor, or in an equal amount of PBS, adjusting the concentration to 50 × 106/ml. Each set of samples was incubated at 37 °C for 24 h and the sperm DNA damage was assessed using the chromatin-dispersion test following 0, 2, 6, and 24 h of incubation.

Results

Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) did not differ between the two experimental conditions at T0; however, Kaplan–Meier estimates to test for survival showed an statistical significant increase of SDF in the seminal plasma group when compared to the PBS group following all timeframes (p 0.000). With respect to sperm DNA longevity, the most dramatic loss of sperm DNA quality occurred during the first 2 h of incubation, with the rate of SDF (rSDF) in the seminal plasma being 2.1 more intense than in PBS. Interestingly, the rSDF was found to vary significantly between individuals, which was confirmed with significant correlations in all rSDF timeframes (rSDF T0–2, p 0.049; rSDF T2–6, p 0.000; rSDF T6–24: p 0.000).

Conclusions

Co-incubation of semen samples in seminal plasma after ejaculation increases iatrogenic sperm damage. This effect is statistically significant after 2 h of co-incubation. Subsequently, for ART purposes seminal plasma must be quickly removed after ejaculation–liquefaction, to avoid a higher susceptibility of sperm DNA towards fragmentation.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness - Programa Retos RTC-2016-4733-1 and by the Slovak Research and Development Agency Grant No APVV-15-0544. The funding bodies had no involvement in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, Nitra, 94976, Slovakia

    Eva Tvrdá

  2. Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Francisca Arroyo & Jaime Gosálvez

Authors
  1. Eva Tvrdá
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  2. Francisca Arroyo
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Correspondence to Eva Tvrdá.

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The authors declare no financial or personal conflicts of interest that might affect any aspect of this study.

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All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee, with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Tvrdá, E., Arroyo, F. & Gosálvez, J. Dynamic assessment of human sperm DNA damage I: the effect of seminal plasma-sperm co-incubation after ejaculation. Int Urol Nephrol 50, 1381–1388 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-018-1915-9

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