Sperm chromatin condensation and single- and double-stranded DNA damage as important parameters to define male factor related recurrent miscarriage

Jordi Ribas-Maynou, Carlos Abad, Sergio García-Segura, Maria Oliver-Bonet, Elena Prada, Maria José Amengual, Joaquima Navarro, Jordi Benet

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to characterize the relationship between sperm protamine deficiency and single- and double-stranded DNA damage and to assess the diagnostic potential of chromomycin A3 (CMA3). For that purpose, semen samples from 90 human males with different clinical features were included (fertile donors, patients with recurrent pregnancy loss [RPL], and infertile patients). DNA condensation was analyzed by CMA3 and different types of DNA fragmentation were analyzed through the comet assay. A positive correlation between DNA condensation and single-stranded DNA fragmentation was found (Rs =.456; p =.05). CMA3 presented differences between fertile donors and all other groups (p <.001). Interestingly, patients with RPL, who were able to achieve a pregnancy, and infertile patients showed similar values of CMA3 (p >.05). Receiver operating characteristic curves and the profiles obtained by the combination of Comet assays and CMA3 indicate that the CMA3 test may be an interesting approach to distinguish those subjects with higher pregnancy loss risk from fertile donors (CMA3 area under the curve 0.928, with a confidence interval of 0.849–1.000). The present work shows that DNA condensation is related to oxidative damage, which affects mainly protamine-rich regions. The profiles observed in different clinical groups showed that CMA3 might be useful for the diagnosis of RPL risk when combined with Comet assays.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1126-1132
Number of pages7
JournalMolecular reproduction and development
Volume87
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • DNA condensation
  • DNA damage
  • chromomycin
  • comet assay
  • sperm

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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