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Cited by 55Sperm and Testicular FunctionMale Reproductive Health StudiesReproductive Health and Technologies

Which isolated sperm abnormality is most related to sperm DNA damage in men presenting for infertility evaluation

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Belloc, Stephanie, Benkhalifa, Moncef, Cohen-Bacrie, Martine, Dalleac, Alain, Chahine, Hikmat, Amar, Edouard, Zini, Armand·2014·Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
DOI 10.1007/s10815-014-0194-3PMC PMC4016368
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Abstract

Background Sperm DNA damage is common in infertile men and is associated with poor semen parameters but the impact of an isolated sperm abnormality on sperm DNA damage has not been studied. Objective To evaluate sperm DNA damage in a large cohort of infertile men with isolated sperm defects. Design, setting and participants Retrospective study of 1084 consecutive, non-azoospermic infertile men with an isolated sperm defect: isolated oligozoospermia (iOligo), isolated asthenozoospermia (iAstheno) or isolated teratozoospermia (iTerato). Outcome measurements and statistical analysis We examined and compared clinical parameters, conventional semen parameters and %sperm DNA fragmentation (%SDF, assessed by flow cytometry-based Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP Nick End-Labeling assay) in the three groups of men. Results and limitations The mean (±SD) %SDF was significantly higher in the iAstheno compared to the iOligo and iTerato groups (25.0 ± 14.0 vs. 19.2 ± 11.6 and 20.7 ± 12.1 %, respectively, P < 0.0001). Similarly, the proportion of men with high %SDF (>30 %) was significantly higher in the iAstheno compared to the iOligo and iTerato groups (31 % vs. 18 % and 19 %, respectively, P < 0.0001). In the group of 713 men with iAstheno, %SDF was positively correlated with paternal age (r = 0.20, P < 0.0001) and inversely correlated with %progressive motility (r = -0.18, P < 0.0001). In the subset of 218 men with iTerato, %SDF was also positively correlated with paternal age (r = 0.15, P = 0.018) and inversely correlated with %progressive motility (r = -0.26, P = 0.0001). Conclusions In this large cohort of infertile men with isolated sperm abnormalities, we have found that the sperm DNA fragmentation level is highest in the men with sperm motility defects and that 31 % of these men have high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. The data indicate that poor motility is the sperm parameter abnormality most closely related to sperm DNA damage.

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  • In further analysis of 1,084 men with isolated sperm defects, sperm DNA damage was more correlated with isolated asthenozoospermia as compared to isolated teratozoospermia.

    “In further analysis of 1,084 men with isolated sperm defects the authors found that sperm DNA damage was more correlated with isolated asthenozoospermia as compared to isolated teratozoospermia (83).”

    From Isolated teratozoospermia: revisiting its relevance in male infertility: a narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [83]

  • Isolated teratozoospermia contributed to 20% of all isolated sperm abnormality cases, accounting for more than 5% of infertile men cases based on a study of almost five thousand infertile men.

    “Isolated teratozoospermia contributed to 20% of all isolated sperm abnormality cases, accounting for more than 5% of infertile men cases based on a study of almost five thousand infertile men (83).”

    From Isolated teratozoospermia: revisiting its relevance in male infertility: a narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [83]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Belloc, S., Benkhalifa, M., Cohen-Bacrie, M., Dalleac, A., Chahine, H., Amar, E., & Zini, A.
Affiliations
St Mary's Hospital Centre (CA)
Corresponding author
Zini, Armand
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-02-25
Volume
31
Issue
5
Pages
527-532
ISSN
  • 0740-7769 (ISSN-L)
  • 1058-0468
  • 1573-7330
DOI
10.1007/s10815-014-0194-3
PMC
PMC4016368
OpenAlex
W2050375868
Cited by
55
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2
FWCI
2.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Male Reproductive Health Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Reproductive Health and Technologies
Keywords
sperm DNA damage, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, oligozoospermia, male infertility, sperm DNA fragmentation, paternal age, sperm motility, semen parameters, TUNEL, sperm DNA methylation
MeSH terms
Adult, DNA Damage, Humans, Infertility, Male, Male, Middle Aged, Oligospermia, Paternal Age, Retrospective Studies, Sperm Motility, Spermatozoa, Asthenozoospermia, DNA Fragmentation

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