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Sperm DNA integrity is vital for successful fertilization, embryo development, pregnancy, and transmission of genetic material to the offspring. DNA fragmentation is the most frequent DNA anomaly present in the male gamete that has been associated to poor semen quality, low fertilization rates, impaired embryo quality, and preimplantation development and reduced clinical outcomes in assisted reproduction procedures. This work summarizes the causes of fragmentation in the spermatic DNA, and its relation with seminal parameters, male aging, and results in assisted reproduction procedures.
FERTILAB Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Lima, Perú
*Address all correspondence to: jgarciaf@fertilab.pe
1. Introduction
Semen quality is frequently used as an indirect measure of male infertility. Ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, motility, and morphology determined according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) are the most important parameters evaluated in infertility centers as part of routine semen analysis. The genetic composition in a newborn is the results of oocyte and sperm DNA information, and it should be intact for further embryo and fetal development that will result in a healthy offspring. Any type of damage present in the DNA of male or female gametes can lead to an interruption of the reproductive process. Sperm DNA fragmentation might be the most frequent cause of paternal DNA anomaly transmission to progeny and is found in a high percentage of spermatozoa from subfertile and infertile men. Several hypotheses have been proposed as to the molecular mechanism of sperm DNA fragmentation, the most important ones being: apoptosis, abnormal chromatin packaging, and reactive oxygen species [1]. Several studies show that spermatozoa with DNA fragmentation are able to fertilize an oocyte [2-4], but are related to abnormal quality embryo, block in the blastocyst development, and lower pregnancy rates either natural or using IUI, IVF, or ICSI procedures [5-10]. Various studies demonstrate that the oocytes and the embryo retain the ability to repair DNA damage that may be present in the paternal genome; however, it is not yet clear if all types of damage can be repaired. For instance, double-stranded DNA breaks appear to be less repairable than single-stranded breaks and, therefore, have a greater impact on embryo quality and/or embryo development. Additionally, the capacity of oocyte to repair DNA damage will depend on factors like maturity, maternal age, and external factors. This review summarizes the causes that produce sperm DNA fragmentation, its relation to seminal parameters, paternal age, and effect on assisted reproduction procedures.
Germ cells mediate the transfer of genetic information from generation to generation and are thus pivotal for the maintenance of life. Spermatogenesis is a continuous and precisely controlled process that involves extremely marked cellular, genetic and chromatin changes resulting in a generation of highly specialized sperm cells (Figure 1). Spermatogonial stem cells replicate and differentiate into primary spermatocytes that undergo genetic recombination to give rise to round haploid spermatids [11]. Round spermatids then undergo a differentiation process called spermiogenesis where marked cellular, epigenetic, and chromatin remodeling takes place [12, 13]. The nucleosomes are disassembled and the histones are removed and replaced by the high positively charged protamines forming tight toroidal complexes, organizing 85—95% of the human sperm DNA [14]. Human spermatozoa have two types of protamine (P1 and P2). P2 has fewer thiol groups for disulfide bonding and this makes human sperm chromatin less stable [15]. Finally, during the transit in the epididymis the cysteines become progressively oxidized forming inter- and intraprotamine disulfide bonds that, along with zinc bridges, stabilize and compact completely the chromatin [16, 17]. All these interactions make mammalian DNA the most condensed eukaryotic DNA [18], adjusting to the extremely limited volume of the sperm nucleus [19].
Chromatin organization plays an important role during the fertilization process and early embryo development. The sperm chromatin is a crystalline, insoluble, compact, and well-organized structure in DNA loop domains with an average length of 27 kilobytes. These loops, which can be visualized by using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), are attached at their bases to the nuclear matrix. During sperm decondensation the DNA remains anchored to the base of the tail, suggesting the presence of a nuclear annulus-like structure in human sperm [20]. This DNA organization permits the transfer of the very tightly packaged genetic information to the egg and ensures that the DNA will be delivered in a physical and chemical form that allows the developing embryo to access the genetic information [1].
Sperm DNA fragmentation can be caused by apoptosis, defects in chromatin remodeling during the process of spermiogenesis, and oxygen radical-induced DNA damage.
3.1. Apoptosis
During spermiogenesis, apoptosis allows the monitoring of the germ cell population that will be sustained by Sertoli cells [21], to regulate the overproduction of sperm cell and the elimination of abnormal cells [22]. Sperm apoptosis is mediated by type Fas proteins [23], and their concentration is above 50% in males with abnormal seminal parameters [24]. Generally, cells marked with Fas proteins are phagocytized and eliminated by Sertoli cells to which these are associated [25, 26]. However, a percentage of defective germ cells undergo sperm remodeling during spermiogenesis, appearing later on the ejaculate, showing normal morphology but are genetically altered [27]. Apoptosis entails cell membrane disruption, cytoskeletal rearrangement, nuclear condensation and intranucleosomal DNA fragmentation in numerous fragments ≥185 bp [28].
3.2. Damage during chromatin packing in the spermiogenesis
Sperm chromatin structure has a complex arrangement of DNA and sperm nuclear protein with different levels of compaction to shrink the nuclear volume and head size [29]. Then, DNA fragmentation may be the result of unresolved strand breaks created during the normal process spermiogenesis in order to relieve the torsional stresses involved in packaging a very large amount of DNA into the very small sperm head. These physiological strand breaks are corrected through H2Ax phosphorylation and activation of nuclear poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and topoisomerase [30].
3.3. Oxygen radical-induced DNA damage by reactive oxygen species
ROS or free radicals are oxidizing agents that are generated as byproducts of the metabolism of oxygen. Due to the presence of at least one unpaired electron, they form highly reactive molecules (e.g. hydroxyl ion [OH], superoxide ion [O2-], nitric oxide [NO], peroxyl [RO2], lipid peroxyl [LOO], and Thyl [RS]) and non-radical molecules (singlet oxygen [O2], hydrogen peroxide [H2O2], hypochloric acid [HOCl], lipid peroxide [LOOH], and ozone [O3]) [31].
It has been reported that the chromatin in the sperm nucleus is vulnerable to oxidative damage, leading to base modifications and DNA fragmentation [32]. De luliis et al. [33] showed that electromagnetic radiation induces ROS production, resulting in DNA damage and decreased motility and vitality in human spermatozoa. Moreover, several toxins released from structural materials or industrial products (e.g., benzene, methylene chloride, hexane, toluene, trichloroethane, styrene, heptane, and phthalates) and toxins in the form of metals (e.g. cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and mercury) increase ROS production in the testes, impairing the spermatogenesis and inducing sperm DNA fragmentation [34-36]. Additionally, consumption of tobacco and alcohol leads to higher rates of ROS production and high levels of DNA strand breaks [37], decreasing in sperm motility [38] and apoptosis.
Furthermore, the activation of sperm caspases and endonucleases by ROS induce sperm DNA fragmentation. Studies by Cui et al. [39] and Banks et al. [40] showed that in vivo exposure of mouse testis at 40º—42ºC results in a significant increase in DNA fragmentation, occurring in the epididymis by activation of caspases and endonucleases. The potential damage that sperm may experience during passage through the epididymis could be limited by removing them before that passage. Patients with high levels of DNA fragmentation in semen and repeated IVF failure can increase their clinical outcomes using testicular sperm obtained by testicular sperm extraction (TESE or TESA) [41].
Human sperm chromatin becomes cross-linked under conditions of oxidative stress and exhibits increased DNA strand breakage [42]. When DNA is minimally damaged, spermatozoa can undergo self-repair and potentially regain the ability to fertilize the oocyte and proceed with development [43]. In fact, the oocyte is also capable of repairing damaged sperm DNA; but when the oocyte machinery is not sufficient to repair DNA damage the embryo may fail to develop or implant in the uterus.
The increase in life expectancy, women’s entry into the labor market and the popular use of contraception has contributed to the social phenomena of delaying family planning and parenthood to the mid or late thirties. This has also had a significant impact on males. In Germany, the median age of married fathers has increased from 31.3 years in 1991 to 33.1 years in 1999 [44]. The same trend has also been seen in England. In 1993, fathers aged 35—54 years accounted for 25% of live births. Ten years later, these percentages grew to 40% [45]. Among couples seeking pregnancy through assisted reproduction technologies (ART), fathers are significantly older compared with those not needing ART (36.6 vs. 33.5 years) [46].
In Western societies, advanced paternal age is a phenomenon that parallels advanced maternal age and is associated with various reproductive hazards including decrease of testicular volume, alterations in testicular histomorphology, and a decrease in the inhibin B/FSH ratio consistent with a reduced Sertoli cell mass [47]. Other observable patterns include risk of chromosomal disorders, decline in semen volume, progressive motility, and daily sperm production with advanced age [48].
On the other hand, García-Ferreyra et al. [49] evaluated the effect of age on fertility and showed that the sperm DNA fragmentation, progressive motility, and spermatozoa morphology are associated with advanced paternal age. They analyzed seminal samples of 217 infertile patients between 21 and 68 years, which were distributed into four groups: <30 years, 30—39 years, 40—49 years and ≥50 years. The results showed an age-dependent increase in sperm DNA fragmentation, which was statistically significant starting at 40 years old (Table 1). Patients ≥ 50 years old had morphologically normal spermatozoa, significantly lower compared to those men <40 years (Figure 2).
García-Ferreyra et al. Sperm DNA fragmentation. JFIV Reprod Med Genet 2012
Figure 2.
Scatter graph illustrating the associations between age and DNA fragmentation (a; r=0.106; p=0.0001) and morphology (b; r=0.054; p=0.0017)
In males, germ cells divide continuously. It has been estimated that 30 spermatogonial stem cell divisions take place before puberty, when they begin to undergo meiotic divisions. From then on, 23 meiotic divisions per year occur, resulting in 150 replications by the age of 20 and 840 replications by the age of 50 [50]. Because of these numerous divisions of stem cells, older men may have an increased risk of errors in DNA transcription. Furthermore, germ cells are continuously under attack from endogenous and exogenous factors that can induce a wide range of DNA lesions, thereby affecting normal cellular processes such as transcription, recombination and replication [51]. One of the main theories of aging states that aging results from an accumulation of unrepaired DNA lesions; such lesions have been routinely linked to aging in many tissues including the brain, the liver, and the testis [52, 53]. Paul et al. [53] showed that there is an age-related accumulation of DNA damage in the testis, particularly caused by oxidative stress in the form of 8-oxodG lesions. Furthermore, aging seems to lower the capacity of germ cells to repair such DNA damage, resulting in the production of spermatozoa with increased DNA damage. This is likely to lead to a decline in genome quality that may be passed on to future generations, specifically the offspring of older males.
Teratozoospermia is defined as ≤ 4% normal sperm morphology at semen analysis with normal sperm count and normal progressive motility [54], and has been associated with infertility and low fertilization rates in conventional IVF procedures [55, 56].
Several studies indicate that DNA damage is associated with abnormalities in conventional semen parameters [24, 57-59]. Irvine et al. [57] found a stronger inverse correlation between DNA damage with concentration (-0.54) and Saleh et al. [60] showed an inverse correlation with the motility (-0.47). Larson-Cook et al. [61] demonstrated that only three of the 10 men with high levels of DNA damage had asthenozoospermia and/or oligozoospermia. In the study of García-Ferreyra et al. [49] evaluating the effect of age on semen parameters in infertile men, it was shown that the advanced paternal age was related to high percentages of fragmented DNA and low values of spermatic concentration, motility and morphology. Recently, García-Ferreyra et al. [62] assessed the quality of spermatic DNA according to spermatozoa morphology in 196 men, concluding that high levels of DNA damage were related to abnormal sperm morphology (Figure 3). Besides, when splitting the patients into a group of normozoospermic men and a group of men with at least one impaired conventional semen parameter or infertile men, the two groups were significantly different from each other in DNA fragmentation, motility, and morphology percentages (Table 2). Similar results were reported by Levitas et al. [63], Cardona et al. [64], Molina et al. [65], and Brahem et al. [66] while Winkle et al. [67] only reported a decrease in sperm motility.
Group
DNA fragmentation (%)
Motility (%)
Morphology (%)
Normozoospermic Infertile men
34.92±5.89 44.41±7.47*
61.57±11.61 35.40±20.45*
5.02±1.12 2.78±1.09*
Table 2.
Relation between DNA fragmentation, motility and morphology.
*P<0.05 in relation to the Normozoospermic group
García-Ferreyra et al. Sperm DNA fragmentation JFIV Reprod Med Genet 2014
Figure 3.
Scatter graph illustrating associations between DNA fragmentation and morphology (r=2.464; p=0.000)
6. IVF/ICSI procedures and sperm DNA fragmentation
Sperm DNA contributes half of the offspring’s genomic material and abnormal DNA can lead to derangements in the reproductive process. Several studies provide good evidence that sperm DNA and chromatin damage are associated with male infertility and reduced natural conception rates [6, 68, 69]. In humans, high levels of sperm DNA damage have been related to low fertility potential, failure to obtain blastocysts, blockage in embryo development after embryo implantation, increased risk of recurrent miscarriages, reduced chances of successful implantation, and negative effects on the health of the offspring [70-72].
Studies of Virro et al. [73], Huang et al. [59], and Borini et al. [76] showed a negative correlation between fertilization rates and high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation. However, if the type and extent of DNA damage can be balanced by the reparative ability of the oocyte, it is possible to achieve fertilization even in the presence of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation rates [74, 75]. Given that, excessive damage in sperm DNA may result in early reproductive failures and during the 4 to 8 cell stage, when the paternal genome is switched on, the development of the embryo will be affected by sperm DNA integrity causing apoptosis, fragmentation, and difficulty to reach the blastocyst stage [19, 76].
An inverse relationship has been reported between the likelihood of achieving pregnancy either by natural intercourse and intrauterine insemination (IUI), but there are conflicting results with IVF/ICSI procedures and the presence of high sperm DNA fragmentation levels [72, 74, 77, 78]. An extended study by Bungum et al. [79] performed on a total of 998 IUI cycles showed significantly lower odds ratios for clinical pregnancy and delivery when the male partner had a DNA fragmentation index >30% measured by SCSA. On the other hand, published studies suggest conflicting results of the influence of sperm DNA fragmentation on embryo quality and development capacity in the outcomes of IVF and ICSI [3, 5, 7, 60].
Two meta-analyses made by Evenson and Wixon [80] and Li et al. [81] evaluating the relation of sperm DNA fragmentation and assisted reproduction outcomes reported different results; the first one showed that the clinical outcomes in IIU, IVF, and ICSI were closely related to DNA fragmented; whereas the other one suggested only negative effect on IVF procedures. A possible explanation for these differences is the different methods used to detect DNA integrity and the lack of standardization of methods used to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation. Recently, Zini et al. [82] performed a systematic review of 28 studies to examine the influence of sperm DNA fragmentation on embryo quality and/or embryo development at IVF and ICSI (8 IVF, 12 ICSI, and 8 mixed IVF-ICSI). In 11 of 28 studies there was a positive relation between DNA fragmented and poor embryo quality/development. Sperm DNA fragmentation was associated with poor embryo development in 7 of 11 positive studies, and with poor embryo quality in 5 of the 11 positive studies. Moreover, according to ART procedures the sperm DNA fragmentation was associated only with 1/8 IVF studies (poor embryo quality), and 5/12 ICSI studies (poor quality and/or delayed development). These data suggest that the effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on embryo quality/development is more dramatic in ICSI compared to IVF, probably because with ICSI the natural selection barriers are bypassed entirely and the fertilization with highly DNA fragmented sperm is possible, which does not occur in IVF where the integrity of sperm DNA is closely related to sperm motility and sperm membrane characteristics important during the natural selection process reducing the probability of fertilization with DNA-damage sperm at IVF [83, 84]. Finally, the majority of studies indicate that sperm DNA fragmentation has negative effects on pregnancy rate, embryo quality, live birth, and early pregnancy loss.
Sperm DNA fragmentation is an important factor that should be evaluated in subfertile and infertile men because several studies have shown that it has an important impact, independent of the parameters of classic semen analysis, on the reproductive process in both natural and assisted reproduction. Particularly, it affects the embryo quality and/or embryo development that decrease the implantation rates and increase the rates of early miscarriage in ART. Finally, it is important to obtain a clear diagnosis and the application of adequate methods of sperm selection pre—ART when high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation are observed to increase the possibilities to achieve the pregnancy in couples with high sperm DNA fragmentation and repeated assisted reproduction failures.
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Written By
Javier García-Ferreyra
Submitted: September 25th, 2014Reviewed: May 15th, 2015Published: October 21st, 2015
Open access peer-reviewed chapter
