Sperm DNA Tests as Useful Adjuncts to Semen Analysis

Male infertility has traditionally been diagnosed by microscopic assessment of concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in the ejaculate. Most laboratories use sperm isolated by various methods such as density gradient centrifugation to enrich for subpopulations of sperm believed to have grea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Systems biology in reproductive medicine 2008, Vol.54 (3), p.111-125
Main Authors: Lewis, Sheena E. M., Agbaje, Ishola, Alvarez, Juan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion, Spontaneous - genetics
assisted conception outcomes
Blastocyst - metabolism
Chromosome Aberrations
Comet
Comet Assay
Congenital Abnormalities - genetics
decreasing birth rates
DNA Adducts - analysis
DNA Damage
Embryonic Development
Female
Fertilization in Vitro
Humans
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Infertility, Male - diagnosis
Infertility, Male - genetics
Infertility, Male - pathology
Infertility, Male - therapy
Male
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - standards
Oxidative Stress
Predictive Value of Tests
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Rate
SCSA
sperm DNA tests
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic - adverse effects
Spermatozoa - chemistry
Spermatozoa - pathology
Treatment Outcome
TUNEL
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Summary:Male infertility has traditionally been diagnosed by microscopic assessment of concentration, motility and morphology of sperm in the ejaculate. Most laboratories use sperm isolated by various methods such as density gradient centrifugation to enrich for subpopulations of sperm believed to have greater fertilization potential. These tests are essential to provide the fundamental information on which clinicians base their initial diagnosis. However, in the clinical setting, tests with superior prognostic value are needed. Tests showing much promise are those determining sperm DNA integrity, particularly the Comet, TUNEL, and Sperm Chromatin Structure assays. Sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation has been positively correlated with lower fertilization rates in IVF, impaired implantation rates, an increased incidence of abortion and disease in offspring, including childhood cancer. The mitochondrial genome of sperm has also been shown to be a sensitive marker of sperm health. Although the usefulness of these tests is recognized, insufficient resources have been available to develop standardized tests and protocols that could lead to universally accepted clinical thresholds. Associated with the lack of useful prognostic tests is the lack of improvement in assisted conception success rates despite thirty years of worldwide use. International collaborations should be initiated to develop agreed protocols and establish clinical thresholds.
ISSN:1939-6368
1939-6376
DOI:10.1080/19396360801957739