Buccal micronucleus cytome biomarkers in Algerian couples with idiopathic infertility

The buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay is a useful and a minimally invasive cytogenetic method for measuring genomic damage. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the extent of chromosomal damage in couples with idiopathic infertility using a BMCyt. This study included 54 patients (27 couples) with idiopathic infertility and 30 fertile subjects (15 couples). When evaluated by individual (each subject from the couple is considered separately), the frequencies of micronucleated cells (MNC), total micronuclei (TMN), nuclear buds (NBUD), and binucleated cells (BN) were significantly higher in the infertile individuals than in the fertile ones (p = 0.009, p = 0.009, p = 0.003 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Among the cells reflecting cell death events, condensed chromatin (CC), karyorrhectic (KHC) and pyknotic (PYK) cells were significantly higher in the infertile individuals (p = 0.0001, p = 0.003, p = 0.001, respectively). Identical results were obtained when data were analysed by couple (female + male). The frequencies of MNC, TMN, NBUD, and BN cells were significantly higher in the infertile couples (p = 0.019, p = 0.021, p = 0.013, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Likewise, CC, KHC and PYK cells were significantly higher in the infertile couples (p = 0.002, p = 0.034, p = 0.008, respectively). BN cells showed the most pronounced difference between the fertile and infertile groups. The basal (BAS) and karyolitic (KYL) cells did not show a significant difference. In conclusion, this study showed that, in comparison to controls, couples with idiopathic infertility had significantly higher frequencies of DNA damage biomarkers (MN and NBUD), biomarkers of cytokinesis-failure or arrest (BN cells) and cell death biomarkers (CC, KHC and PYK cells). These results suggest a possible role of chromosomal damage in idiopathic infertility that may be due to an imbalance between DNA damage rates and DNA repair mechanisms.