Semen characteristics and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with low and high levels of seminal reactive oxygen species

Objective: To examine sperm motility, total antioxidant level (TAC), DNA fragmentation, and medical history in infertile men with high seminal high reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting(s): Tertiary care hospital.

Patient(s): Infertile men (n=101).

Intervention(s): Group I (n=57) included men with seminal ROS (<250 relative light units/sec/×10(6) sperm) while group II (n=44) included men with seminal ROS levels (≥250 relative light units/sec/×10(6) sperm).

Main outcome measure(s): Seminal ROS, TAC, sperm DNA fragmentation, ROS/TAC score were measured.

Result(s): Group II had a high incidence of sperm DNA fragmentation than group I. The odds ratio of 1.25 for elevated ROS levels corresponded to >10% greater DNA fragmentation in our patients (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.53). Group II showed poor motility, a higher incidence of leukocytospermia, and higher ROS-TAC scores compared with group I. ROS was negatively correlated with sperm curvilinear velocity (r=-.24), linearity (r=-.24), and sperm motility (r=-.31). Sperm motility was correlated with %TUNEL(+ve) sperm (r=-.39).

Conclusion(s): An increase in seminal ROS levels by 25% was associated with a 10% increase in sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm motility was affected by seminal ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation.