The impact of testicular and accessory sex gland function on sperm chromatin integrity as assessed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA)
Abstract
Background The sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) provides an objective assessment of sperm chromatin integrity, which is essential for normal sperm function. SCSA is valuable as a fertility marker in epidemiological studies and in the clinical situation. Little is known about the impact of testicular and post-testicular function on SCSA parameters. Methods Ejaculates from 278 military conscripts of median age 18.1 (range 18-21) years were included. Levels of reproductive hormones, the length of the CAG repeat of the androgen receptor gene, sperm concentration, abstinence period and biochemical parameters of epididymal and accessory sex gland secretions were correlated to the SCSA parameters, DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and highly DNA stainable (HDS) cells. Results Negative correlations were found between sperm concentration and DFI (r = -0.119, P = 0.049) and HDS (r = -0.513, P Conclusions Sex steroid production, spermatogenic function, abstinence time and seminal vesicle function appear to impact on sperm chromatin integrity and thereby on sperm fertilizing capacity. These findings may improve present understanding of the pathophysiology of male infertility.
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Hormone levels were measured using validated assays (ElectroChemiLuminiscenceImmunoassay in cohort 2, automated fluorescence detection in cohort 1), and free testosterone was calculated according to a published method.
“Levels of testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) and sex‐hormone binding globulin (SHBG) that were available from both cohorts, were measured in the second cohort by use of ElectroChemiLuminiscenceImmunoassay (Roche Cobas) as previously described in detail. 26 In the first cohort, recruited around year 2000, these hormones were measured by use of an automated”
From Decreased sperm counts in Swedish users of oral tobacco (2022) · cites this paper as [25]
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A Critical Evaluation of Simple Methods for the Estimation of Free Testosterone in Serum
Vermeulen, A., Verdonck, L., & Kaufman, J. M. (1999) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jcem.84.10.6079 · Cited by 3,824 · see citing works
EVENSON, D. P., LARSON, K. L., & JOST, L. K. (2002) · Journal of Andrology · doi:10.1002/j.1939-4640.2002.tb02599.x · Cited by 1,072 · cited 5× · see citing works
“Adopting the guidelines described in a recent publication (Evenson et al., 2002), the extent of DNA denaturation was expressed in terms of DNA fragmentation index (DFI, formerly termed αT function), which is the ratio of red to total (red plus green) fluorescence intensity, by using the ListView…”
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Decreased sperm counts in Swedish users of oral tobacco
Kimblad, A., Ollvik, G., Lindh, C. H., & Axelsson, J. (2022) · Andrology · doi:10.1111/andr.13198 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Richthoff, J.
- Affiliations
- Skåne University Hospital (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Richthoff, J.
- Venue
- Human Reproduction
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2002-12-01
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 3162-3169
- ISSN
- 0268-1161 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2350
- OpenAlex
- W2153215178
- Cited by
- 85
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Human Reproduction (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Physiology › Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Male Reproductive Health Studies
- Keywords
- sperm chromatin integrity, sperm chromatin structure assay, sperm DNA fragmentation, testicular function, accessory sex glands, seminal vesicle fluid, epididymal secretions, estradiol, free testosterone, fructose, zinc, spermatogenesis, male infertility, conscripts
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Chromatin, DNA, Coloring Agents, Estradiol, Fertility, Fructose, Genitalia, Male, Humans, Male, Receptors, Androgen, Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Semen, Sperm Count, Spermatozoa, Sweden, Testis, Testosterone, Zinc, DNA Fragmentation
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