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Effects of reduced seminal enzymatic antioxidants on sperm DNA fragmentation and semen quality of Tunisian infertile men

  • Gamete Biology
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and enzymatic antioxidant status in seminal plasma of Tunisian fertile and infertile men in order to assess the effects of seminal oxidative stress on sperm DNA integrity and semen quality.

Methods

Semen samples from 100 infertile patients (40 oligoasthenoteratozoospermics, 31 teratozoospermics and 29 asthenozoospermics) and 50 fertile men (controls) were analyzed for DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay and biochemical parameters. Seminal antioxidant activities (Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase) and malondialdehyde concentrations were measured spectrophotometrically.

Results

Sperm DNA fragmentation and malondialdehyde levels in infertile groups were more elevated than controls. Nevertheless, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes were significantly lower in abnormal groups compared to normozoospermics. Sperm DNA fragmentation was closely and positively correlated to malondialdehyde levels (r = 0.37, P = 0.008); meanwhile, reduced seminal antioxidant profile was negatively associated to sperm DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, we noted also that sperm DNA fragmentation was negatively correlated to sperm motility (r = −0.54, P < 0.001) and positively associated to the abnormal sperm morphology (r = 0.57, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

This report revealed that increased sperm DNA fragmentation can be due to the impaired seminal enzymatic antioxidant profile and increased Lipid peroxidation. Our results sustain that the evaluation of sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal oxidative biomarkers in infertile men is recommended as a consistent prognostic tool for male infertility assessment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are especially grateful to the study participants. We would like to thank the staff of the “department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Soussa, Farhat Hached Hospital” for their help in semen selection and technician assistance.

Competing interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Reproductive Medicine, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia

    Fatma Atig, Ali Saad & Mounir Ajina

  2. Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, University Farhat Hached Hospital, 4000, Soussa, Tunisia

    Fatma Atig, Ali Saad & Mounir Ajina

  3. Research Laboratory of “Trace elements, free radicals and antioxidants”, Biophysical Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Fatma Atig & Abdelhamid Kerkeni

Authors
  1. Fatma Atig
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  2. Abdelhamid Kerkeni
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  3. Ali Saad
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  4. Mounir Ajina
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Correspondence to Fatma Atig.

Additional information

Capsule Infertile men have a reduced seminal antioxidant profile and increased sperm DNA fragmentation.

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Atig, F., Kerkeni, A., Saad, A. et al. Effects of reduced seminal enzymatic antioxidants on sperm DNA fragmentation and semen quality of Tunisian infertile men. J Assist Reprod Genet 34, 373–381 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9936-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9936-x

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