P-81: Evaluation of DNA Fragmentation in Patients with Total Globozoospermia

Background: Infertility is estimated to affect up to 15% of couples of reproductive age, and male factors contribute to 50% of these cases. Globozoospermia syndrome is a severe form of teratozoospermia, with an incidence of less than 0.1%. It is characterized by round sperm head. The most prominent feature of globozoospermia is the malformation of the acrosome, which is totally absent in the total globozoospermia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of DNA fragmentation in ejaculated sperm of men with total globozoospermia. Materials and Methods: Sperm samples were obtained from 15 patients with total globozoospermia and 30 men with normozoospermia (normal morphology >4% and motility > 40%) referred to Royan institute, Tehran. Semen analysis was carried out to WHO criteria. DNA fragmentation was assessed using sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). Results: The patients with total globozoospermia had a significantly greater percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation compared with that found in normozoospermic control (p<0.001). Conclusion: Several studies have attempted to correlate DNA fragmentation rate with sperm characteristics. However, there is just some case reports about DNA fragmentation rate in globozoosprmic men. We have found an association between globozoospermia and DNA fragmentation that because of remarkable patient’s number can be reliable.