P-19: Association of Poor Chromatin Remodeling with Cytosolic ROS and Mitochondrial ROS in Sperm of Infertile Men

Background: Cytoplasm and mitochondria are considered as the major origins of sperm ROS production. Sperm is prone to DNA damage by exposure to ROS or due impaired chromatin remodeling or low DNA protamination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to see if there is any association between impaired chromatin packaging and origin of ROS production. Materials and Methods: Cytosolic ROS, mitochondrial ROS, DNA protamination and apoptosis were evaluated with dichlorofluorescindiacetate (DCFH-DA), dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR123), chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and YO-Pro-1/propidium iodide respectively, by flow cytometry (FCM) in 40 infertile individuals. Results: Both percentages of DCF and R123 positive sperm were associated with percentage CMA3-positive sperm and negatively associated with percentage apoptotic sperm. No correlation was observed between CMA3-positive sperm and percentage apoptotic sperm. Conclusion: Under protamination of sperm is not associated with origin of ROS production, but their relation suggest that they are associated with general physiological dysfunction of sperm. Furthermore, under protamination does not prone sperm to apoptosis.