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Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Mechanisms of Origin
Monica Muratori1, Sara Marchiani2, Lara Tamburrino2
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Unit of Sexual Medicine and Andrology, Center of Excellence DeNothe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. monica.muratori@unifi.it.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 14, 2019
Summary
High sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) threatens fertility and offspring health. Understanding the mechanisms, including apoptosis and oxidative stress, is crucial for developing future therapeutic strategies to prevent sperm damage.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Spermatozoa are vital for delivering an intact paternal genome for successful embryo development.
- Elevated sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) in sub/infertile men poses risks to human reproduction and offspring health.
- Preventing sperm DNA damage is a significant challenge in reproductive medicine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms inducing sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF).
- To identify the cellular processes responsible for DNA breaks in spermatozoa.
- To provide a basis for future therapeutic interventions against sDF.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews established knowledge on factors inducing sDF.
- It analyzes the cellular mechanisms: apoptosis, impaired sperm chromatin maturation, and oxidative stress.
- It discusses the timing and location of these mechanisms within the male reproductive system.
Main Results:
- sDF can be induced by lifestyle, disease, aging, infections, and pollutants.
- Apoptosis and chromatin maturation defects occur in the testis, affecting dead sperm.
- Oxidative stress contributes to sDF in viable sperm during transit and post-ejaculation, including in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative stress is a key mechanism for sDF in viable sperm and post-ejaculation.
- The precise role of apoptotic nucleases versus reactive oxygen species in mature sperm DNA breaks requires further clarification.
- Understanding sDF induction mechanisms is essential for developing future therapeutic options, though they are not yet established.
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