Detection of apoptotic alterations in sperm in subfertile patients and their correlations with sperm quality

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to define the effect of apoptosis on sperm quality and function. METHODS: The apoptotic features in sperm were assessed in 60 subfertile subjects, using Annexin-V staining for phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labellin...

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Published in:Human reproduction (Oxford) 2002-05, Vol.17 (5), p.1266-1273
Main Authors: Shen, Han-Ming, Dai, Jun, Chia, Sin-Eng, Lim, Alvin, Ong, Choon-Nam
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Annexin-V
apoptosis
Apoptosis - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Survival - physiology
DNA Fragmentation
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
infertile
Infertility, Male - physiopathology
Male
Male genital diseases
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Non tumoral diseases
Phosphatidylserines - metabolism
sperm
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility - physiology
Spermatozoa - pathology
Spermatozoa - physiology
TUNEL
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Summary:BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to define the effect of apoptosis on sperm quality and function. METHODS: The apoptotic features in sperm were assessed in 60 subfertile subjects, using Annexin-V staining for phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and Tdt-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay for DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: On average, about 45% of the sperm were found to be apoptotic based on the results from Annexin-V staining, including both early (Annexin-V-positive, PI-negative) and late apoptosis (Annexin-V-positive, PI-positive). TUNEL-positive cells (median value 15%) significantly correlated to late apoptosis but not early apoptosis, indicating that DNA fragmentation only occurs at the later stage of sperm apoptosis. TUNEL-positive and late apoptotic cells (Annexin-V-positive, PI-positive) were found to be inversely correlated to sperm motility and vitality, and positively to abnormal sperm morphology. On the other hand, it is surprising to note that the apoptotic alterations in sperm positively correlated to sperm concentration or total sperm counts. CONCLUSIONS: Overall results from this study support the abortive apoptosis theory; apoptosis in mature sperm is initiated during spermatogenesis, after which some cells earmarked for elimination via apoptosis may escape the removal mechanism and contribute to poor sperm quality.
ISSN:0268-1161
1460-2350
1460-2350
DOI:10.1093/humrep/17.5.1266