Sperm DNA content: An overall correlation study with sperm count, motility and morphology

Abstract

Summary:Background: To determine the DNA content in subfertile patients and correlate it with seminal sperm parameters, (count, motility and morphology).Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: College of Medicine, Department of physiological chemistry and Institute for Embryo research and Infertility treatment, University of Baghdad.Methods: A random sample of 58 subfertile male patients undergoing semen evaluation and their age ranged from 20-45 years were studied. Semen samples were assessed for seminal sperms (count , motility and morphology) by direct light microscopy. Sperm DNA content was estimated using a microchemical spectrophotometric method .The data were categorized into four groups according to normal and abnormal sperms count ( million / ml ),percent motility and percent morphology. The normal limits of those sperm function parameters were according to WHO criteria. The four groups were named as Normozoospermic (NZS) (control) , Normoasthenozoospermic (NAZS) ,Normoasthenoteratozoospermic (NATZS) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OATZS) groups.Results: The Mean ± SD of the four groups were of significant difference (P> 0.05 ) with respect to sperm count, sperm percent motility and morphology with exceptions of certain groups. Moreover, a non significant difference (P< 0.05) was found with respect to DNA content (µg /ml) and (µg/sperm) except for Gr. IV which showed a significant difference when compared to others.The correlation coefficients (r values) between sperm count and sperms motility, morphology and DNA content (µg/ml) were non significant in the four groups. Noticeably, the DNA content (µg/sperm) was statistically of significant (P>0.05) negative correlation with sperm count in all groups.Conclusion: All groups were of significant difference (P<0.05) among their Mean ±SD values of their count, motility and morphology. There were few exceptions. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found with respect to DNA content (µg/ml or µg/sperm) except for oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group compared to others. No significant correlation was found between sperm count and each of sperms motility , morphology and DNA content (µg/ml) in the four groups .However, the DNA content (µg/sperm) had a statistically significant (P<0.05) negative correlation with sperm count in all groups.Keywords:DNA, sperm concentration(count million/ml ), Normozoospermic(NZS),Normoasthenoszoopermic(NAZS),Normoasthenoteratozoospermic(NATZS), Oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OATZS ) .