| 1. |
- Giwercman, Aleksander, et al.
(författare)
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Sperm chromatin structure assay as an independent predictor of fertility in vivo: a case-control study.
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Andrology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2605 .- 0105-6263. ; 33, s. 221-227
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Summary Standard sperm parameters have a limited power for prediction of the chance of natural conception. Recent studies have indicated that the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) DNA fragmentation index (DFI), a measure for the fraction of sperms with DNA damage, is associated with fertility in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of this parameter for prediction of infertility. One hundred and twenty-seven men from infertile couples with no known female factor and 137 men with proven fertility were included. Semen analysis was performed as recommended by the WHO. DFI was assessed using SCSA. Logistic binary regression was used to compute the odds ratios (OR) for infertility. As compared with men with a DFI <10%, men with a DFI between 10% and 20% had an increased risk for infertility (OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.0-6.1). This was also true for men with a DFI >20% (OR 8.4; 95% CI: 3.0-23). In men with normal standard semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility and morphology) the OR for infertility was increased with DFI >20% (OR 5.1, 95% CI: 1.2-23), whereas if one of the standard semen parameters was abnormal, the OR for infertility was increased already at DFI above 10% (OR 16, 95% CI: 4.2-60). We conclude that SCSA DFI adds to the value of semen analysis in prediction of the chance of natural conception.
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| 2. |
- Leter, Giorgio, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Sperm DNA Global Methylation in Arctic and European Populations
- 2014
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Ingår i: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. - : Wiley. - 1098-2280 .- 0893-6692. ; 55:7, s. 591-600
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used in a variety of industrial processes and products, and have been detected globally in humans and wildlife. PFASs are suspected to interfere with endocrine signaling and to adversely affect human reproductive health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between exposure to PFASs and sperm global methylation levels in a population of non-occupationally exposed fertile men. Measurements of PFASs in serum from 262 partners of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine, were also carried out by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were detected in 97% of the blood samples. Two surrogate markers were used to assess DNA global methylation levels in semen samples from the same men: (a) average DNA methylation level in repetitive DNA sequences (Alu, LINE-1, Sat alpha) quantified by PCR-pyrosequencing after bisulfite conversion; (b) flow cytometric immunodetection of 5-methyl-cytosines. After multivariate linear regression analysis, no major consistent associations between PFASs exposure and sperm DNA global methylation endpoints could be detected. However, since weak but statistically significant associations of different PFASs with DNA hypo- and hypermethylation were found in some of the studied populations, effects of PFASs on sperm epigenetic processes cannot be completely excluded, and this issue warrants further investigation. (C) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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| 3. |
- Romerius, Patrik, et al.
(författare)
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Sperm DNA Integrity in Men Treated for Childhood Cancer.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Clinical Cancer Research. - 1078-0432. ; Jul 1, s. 3843-3850
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: It is unknown whether childhood cancer and its treatment are associated with sperm DNA damage, which subsequently affects fertility and might be transmitted to the offspring. The aim of this study was to assess DNA fragmentation index (DFI) as an indicator of sperm DNA integrity in childhood cancer survivors (CCS), treatment regimen taken into account.EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In 99 CCS and 193 age-matched healthy controls, the DFI was assessed by the use of Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay.RESULTS: In the whole group of CCS DFI was increased as compared to the controls with borderline statistical significance (mean difference=0.94%; 95%CI: -0.0088; 3.7%). Those treated with radiotherapy only (mean difference=6.0%; 95%CI: 1.6; 10%) or surgery only (mean difference=2.9%; 95%CI: 0.083; 3.7%) had statistically significantly higher DFI than the controls. The odds ratio (OR) for having DFI >20%, which is associated with reduced fertility, was significantly increased in CCS as compared to the control group (OR=2.2, 95%CI: 1.1; 4.4). For the radiotherapy only group the OR was even higher (OR=4.9, 95%CI 1.3; 18). The DFI was not associated to the dose of scattered testicular irradiation or the type of chemotherapy given.CONCLUSIONS: The DFI is increased in CCS, those treated with chemotherapy being the only exception. This sperm DNA impairment may be associated with the disease per se rather than due to the treatment and may have negative consequences in terms of fertility and risk of transmission to the offspring.
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| 4. |
- Specht, Ina O., et al.
(författare)
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Relationship between apoptotic markers in semen from fertile men and demographic, hormonal and seminal characteristics
- 2012
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Ingår i: Asian Journal of Andrology. - : Medknow. - 1008-682X .- 1745-7262. ; 14:6, s. 890-896
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Apoptosis in the testis has two putative roles during normal spermatogenesis; limitation of the germ cell population to numbers that can be supported by the Sertoli cells, and, possibly, selective depletion of meiotic and postmeiotic abnormal germ cells. We investigated the demographic and biological correlates of the pro-apoptotic marker Fas and the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-xL in sperm cells of fertile men. Six hundred and four men from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine were consecutively enrolled during their pregnant wife's antenatal visits. Semen analysis was performed as recommended by the World Health Organization. Immunofluorescence coupled to flow cytometry was utilized for detection of apoptotic markers in the sperm cell. DNA damage was assessed by flow cytometry using both the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay. The percentage of Fas-positive sperm cells was higher in men with high total sperm count (P<0.01), more motile sperms (P=0.04) and fewer sperm head defects (P=0.05). These associations were consistent within and across study regions. Furthermore, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and sexual hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were significantly negatively correlated with Fas within and across regions as well. The data indicated no association between the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL marker and semen or personal characteristics. The finding of Fas-positive sperm cells associated with better semen quality in a cohort of spouses of pregnant women seems different from previous data obtained in infertile men and warrants further investigation to clarify the biological significance of sperm apoptotic markers. Asian Journal of Andrology (2012) 14, 890-896; doi: 10.1038/aja.2012.76; published online 15 October 2012
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| 5. |
- Specht, Ina Olmer, et al.
(författare)
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Sperm DNA integrity in relation to exposure to environmental perfluoroalkyl substances - A study of spouses of pregnant women in three geographical regions
- 2012
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Ingår i: Reproductive Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-1708 .- 0890-6238. ; 33:4, s. 577-583
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) can interfere with male reproductive function, but evidence in humans is limited. Six hundred four fertile men (199 from Greenland, 197 from Poland and 208 from Ukraine) were enrolled in the study. We measured four PFASs in serum (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA and PFHxS) and concurrent DNA damage in spermatozoa by sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, apoptotic markers in semen (Fas-receptor and Bcl-xL), and reproductive hormones in serum. No association between PFASs and SCSA, apoptotic markers or reproductive hormones emerged. We observed a slight increase in SHBG and TUNEL-positivity with increased PFOA exposure in men from Greenland. Thus, consistent evidence that PFAS exposure interferes with sperm DNA fragmentation, apoptosis or reproductive hormones was not found. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Toft, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Male Reproductive Function in Greenland, Poland and Ukraine.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Reproductive Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-1708 .- 0890-6238. ; 43, s. 1-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Animal and a few human studies suggest that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may affect male reproductive function. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if male reproductive function was associated with serum level of PBDEs. We evaluated, in a cross-sectional study, the effects of environmental exposure to BDE-47 and BDE-153 on reproductive hormones and semen quality, including markers of DNA damage and apoptosis, in 299 spouses of pregnant women from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine. Adjusted linear regression models indicated no strong associations between BDE-47 or BDE-153 exposure and markers of male semen quality or reproductive hormones. In the largest study to date we demonstrate that BDE-47 and BDE-153 exposure was not associated with altered semen characteristics or reproductive hormones, indicating that male reproductive function is not affected by the exposure level of these compounds in fertile European or Arctic populations.
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