Relationship between sperm progressive motility and DNA fragmentation in fertile and infertile men

Background: Sperm progressive motility has been reported to be one of the key factors influencing in vitro and in vivo fertilization rates. There has been an increase in the literature of studies investigating whether DNA fragmentation could be associated with other semen parameters; however, few reports focused on the relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation and progressive sperm motility.Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between DNA fragmentation level and progressive sperm motility in different groups of infertile asthenozoospermic patients as well as in healthy men of proven fertility.Materials and Methods: Semen samples were collected and examined after liquefaction for 20 min at 37oC from patients in Andrology Laboratory of Majesty of Maryam Infertility Center, Martyr Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Patient were then classified as asthenozoospermic [(Mild asthenozoospermia; PR (progressive sperm motility) = 30-20% n=50) (Moderate asthenozoospermia; PR= 20-10% n=50) and (Severe asthenozoospermia; PR <10% n=50] and 50 fertile healthy men as a control.Results: Fertile healthy men showed lower sperm DNA fragmentation levels as compared with asthenozoospermic infertile men. There was a significant negative correlation of sperm DNA fragmentation using the modified sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test with motility (p<0.001) and progressive motility (p<0.001).Conclusion: Overall, our data suggest that sperm DNA damage is strongly associated with both type and percentage of motility.

Keywords:

DNA fragmentation , Progressive motility , Male