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Bio-Functional Sperm Parameters: Does Age Matter?

Rosita A Condorelli1, Sandro La Vignera1, Federica Barbagallo1

  • 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.

Frontiers in Endocrinology
|December 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Male aging negatively impacts sperm quality, increasing DNA fragmentation. Mitochondrial damage and poor chromatin compactness contribute to apoptosis, elevating sperm DNA fragmentation rates in men.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Spermatozoa
  • Male infertility

Background:

  • Idiopathic male infertility can be explained by biofunctional sperm parameters.
  • Sperm DNA fragmentation (fDNA) is a key parameter.
  • Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis, lipid peroxidation (LP), and mitochondrial superoxide are important indicators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between male age and biofunctional sperm parameters.
  • To assess the impact of these parameters on sperm DNA fragmentation (fDNA).

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry was used to evaluate MMP, chromatin compactness, apoptosis/vitality, fDNA, LP, and mitochondrial superoxide.
  • 874 men were included in the cohort.

Main Results:

  • Age negatively correlated with live spermatozoa (r = -0.75, p < 0.05).
  • Low MMP and abnormal chromatin compactness were linked to reduced live spermatozoa and increased apoptosis.
  • Increased fDNA correlated with PS externalization and decreased live spermatozoa.

Conclusions:

  • Male aging, mitochondrial damage, and altered chromatin compactness may trigger apoptosis.
  • This cascade can lead to increased sperm DNA fragmentation (fDNA).
Keywords:
alive spermatozoamale agesperm DNA fragmentationsperm apoptosissperm lipid peroxidationsperm mitochondrial membrane potentialspermatozoa

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