Apoptosis and Kinematics of Ejaculated Spermatozoa in Patients with Varicocele

Chi Huang Chen, Shang Sen Lee, Da Chang Chen, Hsin Hsuan Chien, I. Ching Chen, Yung Ning Chu, Jah Yao Liu, Wei Hwa Chen, Gwo Jang Wu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Increased DNA fragmentation is found in sperm from infertile men. Varicocele is an important cause of male infertility, even though it is present in 15% of men who father children. Semen analysis does not always identify infertility in these patients. Sperm motility is strongly correlated with male fertility potential. The goal of this study was to determine the correlation between apoptosis and kinematics in the ejaculated spermatozoa of patients affected by varicocele. Fresh semen samples were obtained from 30 patients with varicocele and 15 fertile controls. These samples were compared using computer-assisted semen analysis and were assayed to determine the degree of sperm apoptosis. The apoptotic index (AI) was calculated by dividing the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine-5′ -triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) stained spermatozoa by the total number of Hoechst 33258-stained sperm cells for 300 sperm. Five microscopic fields were analyzed to obtain 5 Als for each individual. Results demonstrated no significant difference in semen quality and sperm motion characteristics; however, a significantly higher AI (23.05% ± 4.07%: mean difference ± SE, 95% CI, 15.06%-31.03%, P < .0001) was identified in the varicocele group than in the fertile controls. We concluded that sperm apoptosis does not seem to correlate with semen quality and sperm kinematics and that apoptosis is increased in ejaculated spermatozoa in patients with varicocele compared to normal fertile men.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)348-353
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Andrology
Volume25
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Computer-assisted semen analysis
  • Hoechst 33258
  • Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate nick end labeling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Urology
  • Endocrinology
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Reproductive Medicine

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