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Co-incubation of spermatozoa with human follicular fluid reduces sperm DNA fragmentation by mitigating DNase activity in the seminal plasma

  • Gamete Biology
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the effect of co-incubating spermatozoa with human follicular fluid (HFF) on the rate of sperm DNA fragmentation.

Methods

This prospective study used semen (n = 23) and HFF from oocyte donors (n = 23). Liquified semen was divided into four aliquots: (1) neat semen (NEAT), (2) seminal plasma removed and replaced with sperm media (HTF) containing 0% (FF0), (3) 20% (FF20), or (4) 50% (FF50) HFF. Sperm motility and DNA fragmentation (SDF) were assessed following 24 h of incubation at 37 °C. Pro-oxidant capacity of HFF and seminal plasma and the effect of HFF on seminal plasma DNase activity was assessed in a sub-sample of 10 ejaculates.

Results

Sperm motility was higher after 3 h of incubation in media that contained HFF compared to the NEAT sample or when sperm was diluted in media without HFF. r-SDF (increase of SDF per time unit) values after 24 h of incubation for NEAT, FF0, FF20 and FF50 were 0.91, 0.69, 0.25 and 0.36, respectively. While pro-oxidant capacity of seminal plasma samples showed large variation (mean: 94.6 colour units; SD 65.4), it was lower and more homogeneous in FF samples (mean: 29.9 colour units; SD: 6.3). Addition of HFF to seminal plasma appeared to inhibit DNase activity.

Conclusion

While differences exist in the pro-oxidant capacity of seminal plasma of patients, sperm DNA integrity was preserved with addition of HFF to sperm media, irrespective of the level of pro-oxidant capacity. DNase activity in the original seminal plasma was abolished after HFF co-incubation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ginemed, Clinic for Assisted Reproduction, Sevilla, Spain

    Monica Dorado-Silva & Pascual Sánchez-Martín

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

    Javier Bartolomé-Nebreda & Jaime Gosálvez

  3. School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia

    Stephen Johnston

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  1. Monica Dorado-Silva
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  2. Javier Bartolomé-Nebreda
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  3. Pascual Sánchez-Martín
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  4. Stephen Johnston
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  5. Jaime Gosálvez
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Correspondence to Stephen Johnston.

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Dorado-Silva, M., Bartolomé-Nebreda, J., Sánchez-Martín, P. et al. Co-incubation of spermatozoa with human follicular fluid reduces sperm DNA fragmentation by mitigating DNase activity in the seminal plasma. J Assist Reprod Genet 37, 63–69 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01643-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-019-01643-2

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