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Updated: Jul 22, 2026
Evaluation of Intracellular Location of Reactive Oxygen Species in Solea Senegalensis Spermatozoa
Published on: March 11, 2018
Relationship between ROS production, apoptosis and DNA denaturation in spermatozoa from patients examined for
Mohamed H Moustafa1, Rakesh K Sharma, Julie Thornton
1Center for Advanced Research in Human Reproduction, Infertility, and Sexual Function, Glickman Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Background:
The aim of this study was to examine the role of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inducing DNA damage in ejaculated spermatozoa.
Methods:
We examined ejaculated spermatozoa from 31 patients examined for infertility and 19 healthy donors for apoptosis, production of ROS and DNA damage using annexin V binding, chemiluminescence assay and sperm chromatin structure assay.
Results:
The percentage of spermatozoa that underwent apoptosis in the whole ejaculate and mature fraction was higher in the patients than in the donors (P<0.001 and P=0.009, respectively). Levels of ROS in the whole ejaculate and immature fraction were higher in the patients than in the donors (P=0.002 and P=0.009). Apoptosis was significantly correlated with ROS within patients in the whole ejaculate [r (95% confidence interval)=0.53 (0.19-0.86)] and in the mature [0.71 (0.39-1.00)] and immature spermatozoa [0.75 (0.45-1.00)]. Only apoptosis and the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) were significantly correlated within patients in the whole ejaculate [0.57 (0.18-0.97)].
Conclusions:
DNA damage may be induced by oxidative assault. Apoptosis may not contribute significantly to the DNA damage.
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