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Balder P, Jones C, Coward K, Yeste M. Sperm chromatin: Evaluation, epigenetic signatures and relevance for embryo development and assisted reproductive technology outcomes. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151429. [PMID: 38905808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Sperm chromatin is distinct from somatic cell chromatin, as a result of extensive remodeling during the final stages of spermatogenesis. In this process, the majority of histones is replaced with protamines. The chromatin is consequently highly condensed and inert, which facilitates protection of the DNA. The sperm epigenomic landscape is shaped by histone retention, histone and protamine modification, DNA methylation, and RNAs. In recent years, sperm chromatin integrity and its epigenetic marks have been increasingly studied, and the constitution of sperm chromatin is steadily being uncovered. This growing body of research prompts assessment of the frequently overlooked involvement of sperm in fertility and embryonic development. Moreover, numerous endogenous and exogenous factors are known to affect sperm chromatin, which may in turn impact the reproductive success. Concerns have been raised about the effects of assisted reproductive technology (ART) on the sperm epigenome, embryonic development and offspring health. This review examines the structure and epigenetic signatures of sperm chromatin in the context of fertility and early embryonic development. Additionally, sperm chromatin evaluation and causes of aberrant integrity are outlined. Building on the knowledge discussed in the current review, future research should aim to elucidate the intricate relationship between all aspects of sperm chromatin and embryo development. This could lead to the uncovering of new targets for treating infertility, as well as the acquisition of much needed insights into the possible reciprocal association between ART and sperm chromatin integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Balder
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Celine Jones
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kevin Coward
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, Level 3, Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona ES-17003, Spain; Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona ES-17003, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona ES-08010, Spain.
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Osatd-Rahim N, Ghorbani F, Jalali M, Karimi F, Ebrahimzade-Bideskan A, Karimi S. The short-term effect of COVID-19 infection history on semen parameters in men referred to infertility centres. Reprod Fertil Dev 2024; 36:RD24008. [PMID: 38968399 DOI: 10.1071/rd24008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Context In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic became a threat to human health and induced global concern. The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes various disorders in the body's systems, and the reproductive system is no exception. Further, the rate of infertile couples is increasing and part of this is related to male infertility. Aims The aim of the present study was to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 infection history on semen quality in men referred to public and private infertility centres. Methods In this research, patients were divided into two groups: 88 men with a history of COVID-19 (Covid+) and 51 men without (Covid-). After semen collection, sperm parameters, fertilisation rate and oxidative stress were investigated. Key results Sperms with normal morphology and mature chromatin in patients with COVID-19 infection history decreased, and seminal oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation were increased; moreover, the fertilisation rate in the Covid+ group decreased in compare to the Covid- group. Conclusion COVID-19 infection increases oxidative stress in the semen, so has a negative effect on some sperm parameters and fertilisation rate. Implications COVID-19 infection impairs semen quality by increasing in oxidative stress, thus reducing the fertility potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Osatd-Rahim
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; and Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Ghorbani
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahsa Jalali
- Armaghan Infertility and IVF Center, Armaghan Clinic, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Karimi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Alireza Ebrahimzade-Bideskan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sareh Karimi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; and Infertility Ward, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Lira Neto FT, Roque M, Esteves SC. Effect of varicocele and varicocelectomy on sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation rates in infertile men with clinical varicocele. Minerva Obstet Gynecol 2024; 76:49-69. [PMID: 36222786 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-606x.22.05169-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Varicocele is the leading cause of male infertility. It can affect sperm quantity and quality through various non-mutually exclusive pathophysiological mechanisms, mainly oxidative stress. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species may overwhelm the sperm's defenses against oxidative stress and harm the sperm's DNA. Excessive sperm DNA breaks, so-called sperm DNA fragmentation, result from the oxidative stress cascade and are commonly found in the ejaculates of men with varicocele and fertility-related issues. Measuring sperm DNA fragmentation can provide valuable information on the extent of harm and might help select candidates for surgical treatment. Varicocelectomy is beneficial for alleviating oxidative stress-associated infertility and improving sperm DNA integrity. However, reproductive outcomes of infertile men with elevated sperm DNA fragmentation rates and surgically treated varicoceles remain poorly studied, and there is a need for well-designed trials to determine the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation reduction on natural and medically assisted reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe T Lira Neto
- AndrosRecife, Andrology Clinic, Recife, Brazil
- Department of Urology, Prof. Fernando Figueira Institute of Integrative Medicine, Recife, Brazil
| | - Matheus Roque
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Mater Prime, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandro C Esteves
- ANDROFERT, Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic, Referral Center for Male Reproduction, Campinas, Brazil -
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Zheng Y, Wu YB, Jia YL, Ying LJ, Yang TT, Cheng QY, Qin J, Luo C, Yu L, Li FP. External quality assessment scheme for sperm DNA fragmentation: a pilot study in China. Basic Clin Androl 2023; 33:36. [PMID: 38012601 PMCID: PMC10683090 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-023-00211-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this article is to establish an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for sperm Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation (SDF) detection, and to assess the feasibility of the scheme. In addition, this article provides some case analysis of abnormal results in order to really help improve the performance of the laboratory. RESULTS In 2021 and 2022, 10 and 28 laboratories in China volunteered to participate in the EQA program respectively. Two samples were selected for EQA each year, a large spread of results was obtained for the four samples, and the highest values were 13.7, 4.2, 8.0 and 4.0 times the lowest respectively. The coefficients of variation (CVs) were very high for the four samples, at 46.6%, 30.1%, 26.7% and 30.3%, respectively. The CVs of the samples with high SDF values were lower than those of the samples with low SDF values. There was no significant difference between the results of sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD). For the 10 laboratories that participated in EQA in 2021 and 2022, the CVs of low SDF value samples and high SDF value samples decreased from 46.6% and 30.1% in 2021 to 32.5% and 22.7% in 2022, respectively. CONCLUSION This is the first study to evaluate the EQA program on SDF, which involved a number of laboratories and was demonstrated to be feasible. It is recommended that all laboratories participate in the EQA of SDF to ensure the accuracy of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zheng
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Bi Wu
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ye-Lin Jia
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Li-Juan Ying
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ting-Ting Yang
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Qing-Yuan Cheng
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Qin
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Chen Luo
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China
| | - Lin Yu
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China.
| | - Fu-Ping Li
- Department of Andrology/Sichuan Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, P.R. China.
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Lira Neto FT, Roque M, Esteves SC. Effect of varicocelectomy on sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation rates in infertile men with clinical varicocele: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertil Steril 2021; 116:696-712. [PMID: 33985792 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of varicocelectomy on sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation (SDF) rates in infertile men with clinical varicocele. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING Not applicable. PATIENT(S) Infertile men with clinical varicocele subjected to varicocelectomy. INTERVENTION(S) Systematic search using PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane's central database, Scielo, and Google Scholar to identify relevant studies published from inception until January 2021. We included studies comparing SDF rates before and after varicocelectomy in infertile men with clinical varicocele. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The primary outcome was the difference between the SDF rates before and after varicocelectomy. A meta-analysis of weighted data using random-effects models was performed. Results were reported as weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed on the basis of the SDF assay, varicocelectomy technique, preoperative SDF levels, varicocele grade, follow-up time, and study design. RESULT(S) Nineteen studies involving 1,070 patients provided SDF data. Varicocelectomy was associated with reduced postoperative SDF rates (WMD -7.23%; 95% CI: -8.86 to -5.59; I2 = 91%). The treatment effect size was moderate (Cohen's d = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.77 to 0.60). The pooled results were consistent for studies using sperm chromatin structure assay, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling, sperm chromatin dispersion test, and microsurgical varicocele repair. Subgroup analyses showed that the treatment effect was more pronounced in men with elevated vs. normal preoperative SDF levels, but the impact of varicocele grade remained equivocal. Meta-regression analysis demonstrated that SDF decreased after varicocelectomy as a function of preoperative SDF levels (coefficient: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.39). CONCLUSION(S) We concluded that pooled results from studies including infertile men with clinical varicocele indicated that varicocelectomy reduced the SDF rates. The treatment effect was greater in men with elevated (vs. normal) preoperative SDF levels. Further research is required to determine the full clinical implications of SDF reduction for these men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Tenório Lira Neto
- Andros Recife, Andrology Clinic, Recife, Brazil; Department of Urology, Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brazil
| | - Matheus Roque
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Mater Prime, 04029-200 São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sandro C Esteves
- ANDROFERT, Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic, Referral Center for Male Reproduction, 13075-460 Campinas, Brazil; Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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