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Analysis of telomere length in couples experiencing idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics volume 30, pages 793–798 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Telomere length plays a significant role in various disorders; however, its role in idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (iRPL) is not known. The objective of this study was to assess telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes in couples experiencing unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (iRPL).

Methods

The study included 25 couples experiencing iRPL and 20 controls. The mean relative telomere length was measured by quantitative Real Time PCR (Q-PCR) based assay, which measures the average ratio of telomere repeat copy number to a single copy gene (36B4) copy number (T/S ratio) in each sample.

Results

The relative leukocyte mean telomere length (T/S) in both men and women from iRPL group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) when compared to controls. A significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation was found between age and leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio). Among the sperm parameters seminal volume was found to be negatively (r = −0.4679) associated with the telomere T/S ratio. The DNA fragmentation index of sperm showed positive correlation (r = 0.4744) with telomere length. In this preliminary study, we found that shorter telomere length in both men and women may be associated with early pregnancy loss.

Conclusion

In conclusion, shorter telomere length in both male and female partners appears to play a role in the idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. Loss of telomeric DNA due to oxidative stress needs further analysis. Analysis of telomere length in germ cells are needed to further substantiate the findings of this study.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank Department of Biotechnology (DBT) (BT/PR4704/MED/12/539/2012), and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) New Delhi, India for their financial support. J. Thilagavathi (ICMR) and S.S. Mishra (DBT) are S.R.F is duly acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

    J. Thilagavathi, S. S. Mishra, M. Kumar, K. Vemprala & R. Dada

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

    D. Deka & V. Dhadwal

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  1. J. Thilagavathi
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  2. S. S. Mishra
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  3. M. Kumar
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  7. R. Dada
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Correspondence to R. Dada.

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Capsule

Telomeres the conserved nucleoprotein structures flanking chromosomal ends and confer chromosomal stability and genomic integrity. Telomere length determines the replicative potential of the cell. Telomere length depends on both genetic and life style factors. Oxidative and psychological stress accelerates telomere shortening. Telomere length in both male and female partners determines the telomere length of blastocyst/embryo, but shorter telomere length may impair the replicative potential of embryo and thus may be the underlying aetiology of iRPL.

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Thilagavathi, J., Mishra, S.S., Kumar, M. et al. Analysis of telomere length in couples experiencing idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. J Assist Reprod Genet 30, 793–798 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9993-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-9993-1

Keywords

  • Telomere length
  • Recurrent pregnancy loss
  • Q-PCR, Sperm chromatin structure assay
  • Reactive oxygen species