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The effects of age on DNA fragmentation, chromatin packaging and conventional semen parameters in spermatozoa of oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of male ageing on DNA fragmentation and chromatin packaging in the spermatozoa of oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) patients.

Methods

Sixty-one OAT patients and 49 men with proven fertility (controls) were included in the present study. DNA fragmentation was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, while chromatin packaging was assessed by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining.

Results

In the patient group, semen volume, percentage of normally shaped spermatozoa and sperm motility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with age, while sperm concentration and the percentage of TUNEL and CMA3 positive spermatozoa showed a statistically significant increase with age (P < 0.05). In the control group, conventional semen parameters as well as DNA fragmentation and chromatin packaging did not show a statistically significant change with age (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased age in OAT patients is associated with an increase in sperm concentration, DNA fragmentation and poor chromatin packaging, as well as a decline in semen volume, sperm morphology and motility.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mrs. Carol Spanos for the English text editing. The project is co-funded by the European Social Fund and National Resources—(EPEAEK II) PYTHAGORAS (grant “Pythagoras” 70/3/7361).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, University of Athens, M.Asias 75, Goudi, Athens, 115-27, Greece

    Konstantina Plastira, Pavlos Msaouel, Roxani Angelopoulou, Kyriaki Zanioti, Aris Plastiras & Dimitris Mantas

  2. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Alexios Pothos, Stamatis Bolaris & Nikolaos Paparisteidis

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  1. Konstantina Plastira
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  2. Pavlos Msaouel
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Correspondence to Konstantina Plastira.

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Plastira, K., Msaouel, P., Angelopoulou, R. et al. The effects of age on DNA fragmentation, chromatin packaging and conventional semen parameters in spermatozoa of oligoasthenoteratozoospermic patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 24, 437–443 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-007-9162-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-007-9162-5

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