Fertility and Sterility
Volume 80, Issue 6 , Pages 1404-1412 , December 2003

Correlation between sperm motility and sperm chromatin structure assay parameters

  • Aleksander Giwercman, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Centre and Department of Urology, Scanian Andrology Center, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints requests: Aleksander Giwercman, M.D., Fertility Center, Malmö University Hospital, SE 205 02, Malmö, Sweden (FAX: 46-40-337043).
    • ,
  • Jonas Richthoff, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Centre and Department of Urology, Scanian Andrology Center, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
    • ,
  • Henrik Hjøllund, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
    • ,
  • Jens Peter Bonde, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
    • ,
  • Katarina Jepson

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Centre and Department of Urology, Scanian Andrology Center, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
    • ,
  • Birgitta Frohm, B.Sc.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Chemistry, Scanian Andrology Center, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
    • ,
  • Marcello Spano, Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Section of Toxicology and Biomedical Sciences, BIOTEC-MED, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and the Environment (ENEA), Casaccia Research Center, Rome, Italy

Received 8 January 2003 ,Revised 28 April 2003 ,Accepted 28 April 2003.

References 

  1. World Health Organization . Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and sperm-cervical mucus interactions. 4th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1999;
  2. Nieschlag E. Scope and goal of andrology. In:  Nieschlag E,  Behre HM editor. Andrology (male reproductive health and dysfunction). Berlin: Springer; 2000;p. 1–8
  3. Neuwinger J, Behre HM, Nieschlag E. External quality control in the andrology laboratory (an experimental multicenter trial). Fertil Steril. 1990;54:308–314
  4. Evenson DP, Jost LK, Baer RK, Turner T, Schrader S. Individuality of DNA denaturation patterns in human sperm as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay. Reprod Toxicol. 1991;5:115–125
  5. Cooper TG, Neuwinger J, Bahrs S, Nieschlag E. Internal quality control of semen analysis. Fertil Steril. 1992;58:172–178
  6. Jørgensen N, Auger J, Giwercman A, Irvine DS, Jensen TK, Jouannet P, et al.  Semen analysis performed by different laboratory teams (an intervariation study). Int J Androl. 1997;20:201–208
  7. Giwercman A, Spano M, Lähdetie J, Bonde JPE. Quality assurance of semen analysis in multicenter studies. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1999;25(Suppl 1):23–25
  8. Bonde JP, Ernst E, Jensen TK, Hjollund NH, Kolstad H, Henriksen TB, et al.  Relation between semen quality and fertility (a population-based study of 430 first-pregnancy planners). Lancet. 1998;352:1172–1177
  9. Larsen L, Scheike T, Jensen TK, Bonde JP, Ernst E, Hjollund NH, et al.  Computer-assisted semen analysis parameters as predictors for fertility of men from the general population. The Danish First Pregnancy Planner Study Team. Hum Reprod. 2000;15:1562–1567
  10. Evenson DP, Darzynkiewicz Z, Melamed MR. Relation of mammalian sperm chromatin heterogeneity to fertility. Science. 1980;210:1131–1133
  11. Evenson DP, Larson K, Jost LK. The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA™) (clinical use for detecting sperm DNA fragmentation related to male infertility and comparisons with other techniques. Andrology Lab Corner). J Androl. 2002;23:25–43
  12. Evenson DP, Jost LK, Marshall D, Zinaman MJ, Clegg E, Purvis K, et al.  Utility of the sperm chromatin structure assay as a diagnostic and prognostic tool in the human fertility clinic. Hum Reprod. 1999;14:1039–1049
  13. Spano M, Bonde JP, Hjollund HI, Kolstad HA, Cordelli E, Leter G. Sperm chromatin damage impairs human fertility. The Danish First Pregnancy Planner Study Team. Fertil Steril. 2000;73:43–50
  14. Larson KL, De Jonge CJ, Barnes AM, Jost LK, Evenson DP. Relationship of assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcomes with sperm chromatin integrity and maturity as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Hum Reprod. 2000;15:1717–1722
  15. Ward WS, Coffet DS. DNA packaging and organization in mammalian spermatozoa (comparison with somatic cells). Biol Reprod. 1991;44:569–574
  16. Spano M, Kolstad AH, Larsen SB, Cordelli E, Leter G, Giwercman A, et al.  The applicability of the flow cytometric sperm chromatin structure assay in epidemiological studies. Hum Reprod. 1998;13:2495–2505
  17. Zini A, Bielecki R, Phang D, Zenzes MT. Correlations between two markers of sperm DNA integrity, DNA denaturation and DNA fragmentation, in fertile and infertile men. Fertil Steril. 2001;75:674–677
  18. Zini A, Kamal KM, Phang D. Free thiols in human spermatozoa (correlation with sperm DNA integrity). Urology. 2001;58:80–84
  19. Richthoff J, Rylander L, Hagmar L, Malm J, Giwercman A. Higher sperm counts in southern Sweden compared with Denmark. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:2468–2473
  20. World Health Organization . Laboratory manual for the examination of human semen and sperm-cervical mucus interactions. 3d ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1992;
  21. Krause W. Computer-assisted semen analysis systems (comparison with routine evaluation and prognostic value in male fertility and assisted reproduction). Hum Reprod. 1995;10:60–66
  22. Skakkebæk NE, Giwercman A, De Kretser D. Pathogenesis and management of male infertility. Lancet. 1994;343:1473–1479
  23. Bonde JP, Joffe M, Apostoli P, Dale A, Kiss P, Spano M, et al.  Sperm count and chromatin structure in men exposed to inorganic lead (lowest adverse effect levels). Occup Environ Med. 2002;59:234–242
  24. Gorczyca W, Traganos F, Jesionowska H, Darzynkiewicz Z. Presence of DNA strand breaks and increased sensitivity of DNA in situ to denaturation in abnormal human sperm cells (analogy to apoptosis of somatic cells). Exp Cell Res. 1993;207:202–205
  25. Sailer BL, Jost LK, Evenson DP. Mammalian sperm DNA susceptibility to in situ denaturation associated with the presence of DNA strand breaks as measured by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase assay. J Androl. 1995;16:80–87
  26. Aravindan GR, Bjordahl J, Jost LK, Evenson DP. Susceptibility of human sperm to in situ DNA denaturation is strongly correlated with DNA strand breaks identified by single-cell electrophoresis. Exp Cell Res. 1997;236:231–237
  27. Barroso G, Morshedi M, Oehninger S. Analysis of DNA fragmentation, plasma membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine and oxidative stress in human spermatozoa. Hum Reprod. 2000;15:1338–1344
  28. Host E, Lindenberg S, Smidt-Jensen S. DNA strand breaks in human spermatozoa (correlation with fertilization in vitro in oligozoospermic men and in men with unexplained infertility). Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2000;79:189–193
  29. Host E, Lindenberg S, Smidt-Jensen S. The role of DNA strand breaks in human spermatozoa used for IVF and ICSI. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2000;79:559–563
  30. Sakkas D, Moffatt O, Manicardi GC, Mariethoz E, Tarozzi N, Bizzaro D. Nature of DNA damage in ejaculated human spermatozoa and the possible involvement of apoptosis. Biol Reprod. 2002;66:1061–1067
  31. Muratori M, Piomboni P, Baldi E, Filimberti E, Pecchioli P, Moretti E, et al.  Functional and ultrastructural features of DNA-fragmented human sperm. J Androl. 2000;21:903–912
  32. Morris ID, Ilott S, Dixon L, Brison DR. The spectrum of DNA damage in human spermatozoa assessed by singe cell electrophoresis (Comet assay) and its relationship to fertilization and embryo development. Hum Reprod. 2002;17:990–998
  33. Silvestroni L, Frajese G, Fabrizio M. Histones instead of protamines in terminal germ cells of infertile, oligospermic men. Fertil Steril. 1976;27:1428–1437
  34. De Yebra L, Ballesca JL, Vanrell JA, Bassas L, Oliva R. Complete selective absence of protamine P2 in humans. J Biol Chem. 1993;268:10553–10557
  35. De Yebra L, Ballesca JL, Vanrell JA, Corzett M, Balhorn R, Oliva R. Detection of P2 precursors in the sperm cells of infertile patients who have reduced protamine P2 levels. Fertil Steril. 1998;69:755–759
  36. Carrell DT, Liu L. Altered protamine 2 expression is uncommon in donors of known fertility, but common among men with poor fertilizing capacity, and may reflect other abnormalities of spermiogenesis. J Androl. 2001;22:604–610
  37. Sakkas D, Tomlinson M. Assessment of sperm competence. Sem Reprod Med. 2000;18:133–139
  38. Calvin HI, Bedford JM. Formation of disulfide bonds in the nucleus and accessory structures of mammalian spermatozoa during maturation in the epididymis. J Reprod Fertil. 1971;13:65–75
  39. Golan R, Cooper TG, Oschry Y, Oberpenning F, Schulze H, Shochat L, et al.  Changes in chromatin condensation of human spermatozoa during epididymal transit as determined by flow cytometry. Hum Reprod. 1996;11:1457–1462
  40. Kosower NS, Katayose H, Yanagimachi R. Thiol-sulfide status and acridine orange fluorescence of mammalian sperm nuclei. J Androl. 1992;13:342–348
  41. Love CC, Kenney RM. Scrotal heat stress induces altered sperm chromatin structure associated with a decrease in protamine disulfide bonding in the stallion. Biol Reprod. 1999;60:615–620
  42. Yu YE, Zhang Y, Unni E, Shirley CR, Deng JM, Russell LD, et al.  Abnormal spermatogenesis and reduced fertility in transition nuclear protein 1–deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2000;97:4683–4688
  43. Zhao M, Shirley CR, Yu YE, Mohapatra B, Zhang Y, Unni E, et al.  Targeted disruption of the transition protein 2 gene affects sperm chromatin structure and reduces fertility in mice. Mol Cell Biol. 2001;21:7243–7255
  44. Golan R, Shochat L, Weissenberg R, Soffer Y, Marcus Z, Oschry Y, et al.  Evaluation of chromatin condensation in human spermatozoa (a flow cytometric assay using acridine orange staining). Mol Hum Reprod. 1997;3:47–54
  45. Larson KL, Brannian JD, Timm BK, Jost LK, Evenson DP. Density gradient centrifugation and glass wool filtration of semen remove spermatozoa with damaged chromatin structure. Hum Reprod. 1999;14:2015–2019
  46. Spano M, Cordelli E, Leter G, Lombardo F, Lenzi A, Gandini L. Nuclear chromatin variations in human spermatozoa undergoing swimming up and cryoconservation evaluated by the flow cytometric sperm chromatin structure assay. Mol Hum Reprod. 1999;5:29–37
  47. Zini A, Finelli A, Phang D, Jarvi K. Influence of semen processing technique on human sperm DNA integrity. Urology. 2000;56:1081–1084
  48. Zini A, Kamal K, Phang D, Willis J, Jarvi K. Biologic variability of sperm DNA denaturation in infertile men. Urology. 2001;58:258–261
  49. Kobayashi H, Larson K, Sharma RK, Nelson DR, Evenson DP, Toma H, et al.  DNA damage in patients with untreated cancer as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay. Fertil Steril. 2001;75:469–475

☆ Partially supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of University and of Scientific and Technological Research on “Biological Bases of Individual Susceptibility.” Also supported by Swedish governmental funding for clinical research, the Swedish Cancer Society (grant no. 4423), the Swedish Research Council (grant no. 521-2002-3907), Gunnar Nilssons Cancerstiftelse, Crafoordska Stiftelse, Ove Tulefjords Fund, and the Foundation for Urological Research.

PII: S0015-0282(03)02212-X

doi: 10.1016/S0015-0282(03)02212-X

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 80, Issue 6 , Pages 1404-1412 , December 2003

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution