Semen characteristics and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with low and high levels of seminal reactive oxygen species

Objective

To examine sperm motility, total antioxidant level (TAC), DNA fragmentation, and medical history in infertile men with high seminal high reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Design

Prospective study.

Setting(s)

Tertiary care hospital.

Patient(s)

Infertile men (n = 101).

Intervention(s)

Group I (n = 57) included men with seminal ROS (<250 relative light units/sec/×10⁶ sperm) while group II (n = 44) included men with seminal ROS levels (≥250 relative light units/sec/×10⁶ sperm).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Seminal ROS, TAC, sperm DNA fragmentation, ROS/TAC score were measured.

Result(s)

Group II had a high incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation than group I. The odds ratio of 1.25 for elevated ROS levels corresponded to >10% greater DNA fragmentation in our patients (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.53). Group II showed poor motility, a higher incidence of leukocytospermia, and higher ROS-TAC scores compared with group I. ROS was negatively correlated with sperm curvilinear velocity (r = −.24), linearity (r = −.24), and sperm motility (r = −.31). Sperm motility was correlated with %TUNEL^+ve sperm (r = −.39).

Conclusion(s)

An increase in seminal ROS levels by 25% was associated with a 10% increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm motility was affected by seminal ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation.

Key Words: Sperm motility, sperm motion kinetics, male infertility, sperm DNA fragmentation, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity