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In vitro incubation of human spermatozoa promotes reactive oxygen species generation and DNA fragmentation
Author(s) -
Cicaré J.,
Caille A.,
Zumoffen C.,
Ghersevich S.,
Bahamondes L.,
Munuce M. J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12337
Subject(s) - dna fragmentation , reactive oxygen species , fragmentation (computing) , in vitro , incubation , dna , oxygen , biology , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , andrology , genetics , biochemistry , medicine , apoptosis , ecology , organic chemistry , programmed cell death
Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative process associated with sperm capacitation and its impact on DNA fragmentation and sperm function. Redox activity and lipid peroxidation were analysed in human spermatozoa after 3, 6 and 22 h of incubation in Ham′s F10 medium plus bovine albumin at 37° and 5% CO 2 for capacitation. DNA status, tyrosine phosphorylation pattern and induced acrosome reaction were evaluated after capacitating conditions. At 22 h of incubation, there was a significant ( P < 0.05) increase in oxygen‐free radicals and lipid peroxidation, with no effect on sperm viability. There also was a significant ( P < 0.001) increase in fragmented DNA in capacitated spermatozoa compared to semen values with higher rates being found after the occurrence of the induced acrosome reaction. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation pattern confirms that capacitation took place in parallel with the occurrence of DNA fragmentation. These results indicate that when spermatozoa are incubated for several hours (22 h), a common practice in assisted reproductive techniques, an increase in oxidative sperm metabolism and in the proportion of fragmented DNA should be expected. However, there was no effect on any of the other functional parameters associated with sperm fertilising capacity.