Evaluation of sperm head shape at high magnification revealed correlation of sperm DNA fragmentation with aberrant head ellipticity and angularity

Utsuno, Hiroki; Oka, Koichi; Yamamoto, Ayako; Shiozawa, Tanri

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.01.100

Cited by 34 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Many studies have indicated that there is a positive relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation (mainly measured by the TUNEL assay) and large vacuoles in the sperm nuclear area [41–44]. Therefore, the presence of sperm nuclear vacuoles on real-time optical microscopy without denaturation may indirectly indicate spermatozoa carrying possible DNA alterations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Factors Associated with Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Male Patients with Infertility

Komiya

Kato

Kawauchi

et al. 2014

The Scientific World Journal

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Objective. The clinical factors associated with sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) were investigated in male patients with infertility. Materials and Methods. Fifty-four ejaculates from infertile Japanese males were used. Thirty-three and twenty-one were from the patients with varicoceles and idiopathic causes of infertility, respectively. We performed blood tests, including the serum sex hormone levels, and conventional and computer-assisted semen analyses. The sperm nuclear vacuolization (SNV) was evaluated using a high-magnification microscope. The SDF was evaluated using the sperm chromatin dispersion test (SCDt) to determine the SDF index (SDFI). The SDFI was compared with semen parameters and other clinical variables, including lifestyle factors. Results. The SDFI was 41.3 ± 22.2% (mean ± standard deviation) and did not depend on the cause of infertility. Chronic alcohol use increased the SDFI to 49.6 ± 23.3% compared with 33.9 ± 18.0% in nondrinkers. The SDFI was related to adverse conventional semen parameters and sperm motion characteristics and correlated with the serum FSH level. The SNV showed a tendency to increase with the SDFI. The multivariate analysis revealed that the sperm progressive motility and chronic alcohol use were significant predictors of the SDF. Conclusion. The SCDt should be offered to chronic alcohol users and those with decreased sperm progressive motility.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Factors Associated with Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Male Patients with Infertility

Komiya

Kato

Kawauchi

et al. 2014

The Scientific World Journal

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“…With respect to sperm parameters, properly condensed sperm nucleus is essential to undergo decondensation for pronucleus formation during fertilization (Tosti & Fortunato, 2011). Moreover, higher prevalence of abnormal chromatin condensation was marked in teratozoospermia cases Utsuno et al, 2013). Moreover, higher prevalence of abnormal chromatin condensation was marked in teratozoospermia cases Utsuno et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An illustration of human sperm morphology and their functional ability among different group of subfertile males

et al. 2018

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Condensed sperm chromatin is a prerequisite for natural fertilization. Some reports suggested the prevalence of chromatin condensation defects in teratozoospermia cases with head anomalies; conversely, earlier studies exemplified its occurrence in morphologically normal spermatozoa too. The aim of this study was to compare the condensation defects in correlation with head anomalies among different groups of subfertile males and its impact on the rate of fertilization in assisted reproduction procedures. Ultrastructure analysis of spermatozoa through scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy could facilitate an in-depth evaluation of sperm morphology. Nuclear condensation defects (%) in spermatozoa were analyzed in 666 subjects, and its effect on the rate of fertilization was analyzed in 116 IVF and 90 intracytoplasmic sperm injection cases. There was no correlation of condensation defects with head anomalies (%). Student's t-test showed no significant changes in mean values of condensation defects in abnormal semen samples in comparison with the normal group. Condensation defects were observed in normal spermatozoa too, which was negatively associated with the rate of fertilization in IVF (p < 0.01), but intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome remained unaffected. Ultrastructure study revealed sperm morphological features in height, amplitude, and three-dimensional views in atomic force microscopy images presenting surface topography, roughness property of head, and compact arrangement of mitochondria over axoneme with height profile at nanoscale. In pathological forms, surface roughness and nuclear thickness were marked higher than the normal spermatozoa. Thus, percentage of normal spermatozoa with condensation defects could be a predictive factor for the rate of fertilization in IVF. From diverse shapes of nucleus in AFM imaging, it could be predicted that defective nuclear shaping might be impeding the activity of some proteins/ biological motors, those regulate the proper Golgi spreading over peri-nuclear theca.

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“…Many studies have indicated that there is a positive relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation and the presence of large nuclear vacuoles in the sperm nuclear area [53–55]. Furthermore, several studies have reported that large vacuoles are associated with chromatin condensation failure [38, 56–60]. DNA damage alters the special cellular functions of human spermatozoa, resulting in diminished acrosome reactions with reduced rates of fertilization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm Nuclear Vacuoles in relation to Acrosome Reactions and Sperm Motility

Komiya

Kawauchi

Kato

et al. 2014

The Scientific World Journal

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We investigated sperm nuclear vacuolation in relation to acrosome reactions and the maintenance of sperm motility. Thirty male patients who visited our Male Infertility Clinic were enrolled. These patients underwent conventional semen analyses, Acrobeads tests, and high-magnification observation of the sperm head to evaluate the degree of nuclear vacuolation on the Acrobeads test scoring after 24 hours of incubation. The presence of acrosome reactions was evaluated using the Acrobeads test. The spermatozoa were classified into three groups: (I) those bound to MH61-beads, (II) motile spermatozoa that did not bind to MH61-beads, and (III) immotile spermatozoa that did not bind to MH61-beads. The percentage of spermatozoa with large nuclear vacuoles (%LNV) was compared between the three groups. The degree of sperm nuclear vacuolation was evaluated in 17,992 ejaculated spermatozoa. The mean %LNVs were 2.4% in group I, 5.8% in group II, and 9.8% in group III. These values were significantly different from each other (P < 0.001, paired t-test). There were no correlations between the %LNV values and the Acrobeads scores. In conclusion, the degree of sperm nuclear vacuolation was significantly lower in the acrosome-reacted spermatozoa and spermatozoa with maintained motility, and higher in the immotile spermatozoa that did not bind to MH61-beads.

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Evaluation of sperm head shape at high magnification revealed correlation of sperm DNA fragmentation with aberrant head ellipticity and angularity

Cited by 34 publications

References 61 publications

Clinical Factors Associated with Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Male Patients with Infertility

Clinical Factors Associated with Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Male Patients with Infertility

An illustration of human sperm morphology and their functional ability among different group of subfertile males

Sperm Nuclear Vacuoles in relation to Acrosome Reactions and Sperm Motility

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