[Influence of semen preservation and processing methods on sperm DNA integrity]

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Andrology
• Spermatozoa cryopreservation

Background:

• Sperm DNA integrity is crucial for male fertility.
• Various preservation and processing techniques are used for semen samples.
• Understanding their impact on DNA integrity is essential for assisted reproductive technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate how different semen preservation methods affect sperm DNA integrity.
• To assess the influence of semen processing techniques on sperm DNA fragmentation.
• To compare the efficacy of snap freezing, slow freezing, room temperature preservation, washing, swim-up, and density gradient centrifugation (DGC) on sperm DNA quality.

Main Methods:

• Collected semen from 100 normozoospermic males.
• Preserved samples via snap freezing, slow freezing, or room temperature (4 and 24 hours).
• Processed semen using washing, swim-up, and DGC; assessed sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and motility after 24-hour culture.

Main Results:

• Longer room temperature preservation (24 hours) significantly increased sperm DFI compared to shorter periods or other methods.
• Washing resulted in higher DFI ([13.7 ± 2.0]%) than swim-up ([9.1 ± 1.3]%) and DGC ([8.0 ± 2.5]%).
• DGC demonstrated the lowest DFI ([11.5 ± 4.2]%) after 24-hour culture, indicating superior DNA protection.

Conclusions:

• Semen preservation conditions and processing methods significantly influence sperm DNA integrity.
• Density gradient centrifugation is a preferred method for maintaining sperm DNA quality post-processing.
• Careful selection of preservation and processing techniques is vital for optimizing male fertility outcomes.