Open AccessIncorporating sperm DNA fragmentation index with computer-assisted semen morphokinematic parameters as a better window to male fertility
Author(s) -
Hsin-Ta Lin,
MingHo Wu,
Weng-Ling Wu,
Lin Tsai,
Yuying Chen,
Kuei-Hsiang Hung,
PoHsuan Wu,
Ta-Sheng Chen,
Horng Yih Ou,
YuSheng Cheng
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
chinese journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.396
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2666-0059
pISSN - 0304-4920
DOI - 10.4103/cjp.cjp_12_22
Subject(s) - semen , dna fragmentation , sperm , cutoff , andrology , biology , semen analysis , sperm motility , concordance correlation coefficient , concordance , correlation coefficient , fertility , infertility , medicine , statistics , mathematics , apoptosis , genetics , physics , population , pregnancy , quantum mechanics , programmed cell death , environmental health
This study aimed to assess (1) the reproducibility of three sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assays for sperm DNA fragmentation, i.e., LensHooke R10 ® (R10), Halosperm G2 ® (G2), and BASO ® (BA); (2) the correlation between computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA) morphokinematic parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and (3) the diagnostic value for male reproduction by combining semen morphokinematic parameters and DFI. Total 50 male participants were recruited, and all collected semen samples underwent semen analyses and SCD assays. Intra- and inter-observer variability of DFI data from different SCD measures was tested. In addition, the predictive ability of CASA parameters and DFI (with different cutoffs, i.e., 15% and 20%) for infertility was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. We found that the G2 and R10 produced satisfactory variance coefficients (5.53%, 5.67%) compared to BA (14.8%). The DFI data from the R10 had lower intra-observer variability, in terms of higher intra-class coefficient (0.9615), than that of the G2 (0.8847) or BA (0.8824). Inter-observer variability of three SCD kits in scoring the DFI was comparable and satisfactory (concordance correlation coefficients ranging 0.9895-0.9630). The CASA parameters (i.e., total motility [r = -0.57], progression motility [r = -0.55], and rapidly progressive motility [r = -0.55]) were significantly correlated with DFI (P < 0.001). The predictive ability of the 15%-cutoff DFI data was better than that of the 20%-cutoff or continuous DFI data. The model comprising the CASA parameters, 15%-cutoff DFI, and 4%-cutoff normal morphology had the highest area under curve (0.8125) for infertility. For SCD assay, the R10 was the most reliable SCD assay to detect sperm DNA fragmentation. Combining the sperm DFI with CASA parameters might be a better diagnostic tool for male reproduction.