Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

DNA integrity in human sperm

D Anderson1, M M Dobrzyńska, T W Yu

  • 1Department of Genetic and Reproductive Toxicology, BIBRA International, Carshalton, Surrey, United Kingdom. danderson@bibra.co.uk

Teratogenesis, Carcinogenesis, and Mutagenesis
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Function of hexameric RNA in packaging of bacteriophage phi 29 DNA in vitro.

Molecular cell·1998
Same author

HIV quantitation in spiked vaginocervical secretions: lack of non-specific inhibitory factors. DATRI 005 Study Team. Division of AIDS Treatment Research Initiative.

Journal of virological methods·1998
Same author

Flavonoids modulate comet assay responses to food mutagens in human lymphocytes and sperm.

Mutation research·1998
Same author

Evaluating hoarseness: keeping your patient's voice healthy.

American family physician·1998
Same author

Head-wag autotomography of the upper cervical spine in infantile torticollis.

Pediatric radiology·1998
Same author

An examination of DNA strand breakage in the comet assay and antioxidant capacity in diabetic patients.

Mutation research·1998

This study introduces a new method using human sperm DNA integrity to test chemicals. The alkaline Comet assay effectively detected DNA damage from various compounds in both fresh and frozen sperm samples.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Toxicology
  • Environmental Health
  • Sperm Biology

Background:

  • Declining human sperm counts and rising testicular cancer rates since the 1970s suggest a link to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
  • Current rodent bioassays for screening these chemicals are costly, complex, and raise ethical concerns.
  • Existing in vitro assays lack direct assessment using human semen as a target tissue.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the alkaline Comet assay's utility for assessing DNA damage in human sperm exposed to environmental chemicals.
  • To compare the effects of specific estrogens, a butadiene metabolite, and a known reprotoxin on sperm DNA integrity.
  • To determine if the assay is effective for both fresh and frozen sperm samples from fertile and infertile men.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Human sperm samples (fresh and frozen, fertile and infertile) were exposed in vitro to beta-estradiol, daidzein, 1,2-epoxybutene, and dibromochloropropane.
  • The alkaline Comet assay was employed to measure DNA strand breaks and assess DNA integrity.
  • Flow cytometry was used for comparative analysis on frozen samples.

    • Main Results:

    • The alkaline Comet assay demonstrated altered DNA responses in both frozen and fresh sperm samples (fertile and infertile) exposed to the tested chemicals compared to untreated controls.
    • While flow cytometry showed differences in frozen fertile versus infertile samples, the Comet assay yielded similar responses across sample types.
    • The assay effectively detected DNA damage induced by estrogens, a butadiene metabolite, and a known reprotoxin.

    Conclusions:

    • The alkaline Comet assay is a viable method for examining DNA integrity in human sperm, applicable to both fresh and frozen samples.
    • This assay offers a potentially cost-effective and ethically sound alternative to rodent bioassays for screening reproductive toxicants.
    • Assessing DNA integrity in sperm is crucial for understanding reproductive health and the accurate transmission of genetic material.