Abnormalities in the male genome are a clear potential reason for post fertilization failure. Male infertility may arise due to high levels of loosely packaged chromatin and damaged DNA. The achievement of a correct chromatin packaging level is essential for successful fertilization. The chromatin contained in the nuclei of mammalian spermatozoa is an extremely compact and stable structure. The...

OBJECTIVE To determine DNA damage as measured by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) in subsets of human spermatozoa at different stages of maturation in patients who are undergoing infertility evaluation. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Andrology laboratory at a tertiary care hospital. PATIENT(S) Fifty-six patients undergoing infertility evaluation. Patients with normal semen pa...

The hypothesis to be tested was that abnormal sperm chromatin structure is related to disturbed spermatogenesis in patients with testicular cancer. After orchiectomy but before further treatment ("pretreatment"), semen samples from 39 patients with testicular cancer were analyzed for sperm concentration by light microscopy and by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA). In 28 patients assess...

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the possible relationship between sperm DNA integrity and chromatin packaging evaluated by cytochemical assays, traditional sperm parameters and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) of unknown origin. Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, 40 couples with a history of RSA and 40 couples with proven fertility were considered as case and cont...

Background: It is showed that methamphetamine has harmful effects on male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methamphetamine administration on testis weight, sperm count, sperm morphology, and chromatin status as well as sperm apoptotis followed by the cytochemical tests in a mouse model. Materials and Methods: Twenty four NMRI male mice were divided in...

The technique (sperm chromatin structure assay) used in this study identifies one reason (a decrease in chromatin quality) for stallions whose semen shows reduced fertility when chilled. This assay is a diagnostic test, in addition to the use of sperm motility and morphologic evaluation, to evaluate the quality of chilled stallion semen and further aid the practitioner and the breeding industry...

There is evidence to show that varicocele repair can improve conventional sperm parameters but the effects on sperm chromatin integrity have not been fully elucidated. We sought to examine the effects of varicocelectomy on sperm maturation, nuclear chromatin integrity and nuclear sulfhydryl groups. We conducted a prospective study of consecutive infertile men (n=29) that underwent a microsurgic...

Objective(s): Melatonin, an important hormone secreted by the epiphysis, is a powerful anti-oxidant with a high potential to neutralize medical toxins. The goal of this study was to demonstrate the beneficial effect of melatonin on epididymal sperm and reproductive parameters in mice treated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Materials and Methods: Male adult mice were divided into four treatment...