Damage to sperm DNA was proposed to play an important role in embryonic development.Previous studies focused on outcomes after fresh embryo transfer,whereas this study investigated the influence of sperm DNA fragmenta...Damage to sperm DNA was proposed to play an important role in embryonic development.Previous studies focused on outcomes after fresh embryo transfer,whereas this study investigated the influence of sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)on laboratory and clinical outcomes after frozen embryo transfer(FET).This retrospective study examined 381 couples using cleavage-stage FET.Sperm used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)or in vitro fertilization(IVF)underwent density gradient centrifugation and swim up processing.Sperm DFI had a negative correlation with sperm motility(r=−0.640,P<0.01),sperm concentration(r=−0.289,P<0.01),and fertilization rate of IVF cycles(r=−0.247,P<0.01).Sperm DFI examined before and after density gradient centrifugation/swim up processing was markedly decreased after processing(17.1%vs 2.4%,P<0.01;65 randomly picked couples).Sperm progressive motility was significantly reduced in high DFI group compared with low DFI group for both IVF and ICSI(IVF:46.9%±12.4%vs 38.5%±12.6%,respectively;ICSI:37.6%±14.1%vs 22.3%±17.8%,respectively;both P<0.01).The fertilization rate was significantly lower in high(≥25%)DFI group compared with low(<25%)DFI group using IVF(73.3%±23.9%vs 53.2%±33.6%,respectively;P<0.01)but was equivalent in high and low DFI groups using ICSI.Embryonic development and clinical outcomes after FET were equivalent for low and high DFI groups using ICSI or IVF.In this study,sperm DFI did not provide sufficient information regarding embryo development or clinical outcomes for infertile couples using FET.展开更多
Reliable molecular biomarkers to predict fertility remain scarce.The current study investigated the potential of testis-specific circBOULE RNAs as biomarkers for male infertility and sperm quality.Using reverse transc...Reliable molecular biomarkers to predict fertility remain scarce.The current study investigated the potential of testis-specific circBOULE RNAs as biomarkers for male infertility and sperm quality.Using reverse transcription-PCR and real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays,we identified seven circular RNAs from the human BOULE gene in human sperm.We observed that the expression level of circEx3-6 was significantly reduced in asthenozoospermia,while the expression levels of both circEx2-6 and circEx2-7 were decreased in terato-zoospermia,compared with the controls.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the expression level of circEx2-6 was negatively correlated with the sperm DNA fragmentation index,and the expression level of circEx2-7 was correlated with both fertilization and cleavage rates in those treated with the assisted reproductive technologies.Further functional analyses in a transgenic fly model supported the roles of circBOULE RNAs in sperm development and human male fertility.Collectively,our findings support that sperm circBOULE RNAs may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for assessing sperm motility and DNA quality.Therefore,clinical application and significance of sperm circBOULE RNAs in the assisted reproductive technologies warrant further investigation.展开更多
The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of magnetic-activated cell sorting(MACS)in sperm preparation for male subjects with a sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)≥30%.A total of 86 patients who had un...The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of magnetic-activated cell sorting(MACS)in sperm preparation for male subjects with a sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)≥30%.A total of 86 patients who had undergone their first long-term long protocol were selected.The protocol involved in vitro fertilization(IVF)and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)cycles,and the patients were divided into the MACS or control groups.The MACS group included sperm samples analyzed with MACS that were combined with density gradient centrifugation(DGC)and the swim-up(SU)technique(n=39),and the control group included sperm samples prepared using standard techniques(DGC and SU;n=41).No differences were noted with regard to basic clinical characteristics,number of oocytes retrieved,normal fertilization rate,cleavage rate,or transplantable embryo rate between the two groups in IVF/ICSI.In addition,the clinical pregnancy and implantation rates of the first embryo transfer cycles indicated no significant differences between the two groups.However,there was a tendency to improve the live birth rate(LBR)of the first embryo transfer cycle(63.2%vs 53.9%)and the cumulative LBR(79.5%vs 70.7%)in the MACS group compared with the control group.Moreover,the number of transferred embryos(mean±standard deviation[s.d.]:1.7±0.7 vs 2.3±1.6)and the transfer number of each retrieved cycle(mean±s.d.:1.2±0.5 vs 1.6±0.8)were significantly lower in the MACS group than those in the control group.Thus,the selection of nonapoptotic spermatozoa by MACS for higher sperm DFI could improve assisted reproductive clinical outcomes.展开更多
The sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)is a metric used to assess DNA fragmentation within sperm.During in vitro fertilizationembryo transfer(IVF-ET),high sperm DFI can lead to a low fertilization rate,poor embryo deve...The sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)is a metric used to assess DNA fragmentation within sperm.During in vitro fertilizationembryo transfer(IVF-ET),high sperm DFI can lead to a low fertilization rate,poor embryo development,early miscarriage,etc.A kinase anchoring protein(AKAP)is a scaffold protein that can bind protein kinase A(PKA)to subcellular sites of specific substrates and protects the biophosphorylation reaction.Sperm protein antigen 17(SPA17)can also bind to AKAP.This study intends to explore the reason for the decreased fertilization rate observed in high sperm DFI(H-DFI)patients during IVF-ET.In addition,the study investigates the expression of AKAP,protein kinase A regulatory subunit(PKARIl),and SPA17 between H-DFI and low sperm DFI(L-DFI)patients.SPA17 at the transcriptional level is abnormal,the translational level increases in H-DFI patients,and the expression of AKAP4/PKARIl protein decreases.H,O,has been used to simulate oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa during the formation of sperm DFI.It indicates that H,O,increases the expression of sperm SPA17 protein and suppresses AKAP4/PKARIl protein expression.These processes inhibit sperm capacitation and reduce acrosomal reactions.Embryo culture data and IVF outcomes have been documented.The H-DFI group has a lower fertilization rate.Therefore,the results indicate that the possible causes for the decreased fertilization rate in the H-DFI patients have included loss of sperm AKAP4/PKARIl proteins,blocked sperm capacitation,and reduced occurrence of acrosome reaction.展开更多
基金This research was funded by the Basic Science Research Program of Nantong(JC2019017)to XW.
文摘Damage to sperm DNA was proposed to play an important role in embryonic development.Previous studies focused on outcomes after fresh embryo transfer,whereas this study investigated the influence of sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)on laboratory and clinical outcomes after frozen embryo transfer(FET).This retrospective study examined 381 couples using cleavage-stage FET.Sperm used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)or in vitro fertilization(IVF)underwent density gradient centrifugation and swim up processing.Sperm DFI had a negative correlation with sperm motility(r=−0.640,P<0.01),sperm concentration(r=−0.289,P<0.01),and fertilization rate of IVF cycles(r=−0.247,P<0.01).Sperm DFI examined before and after density gradient centrifugation/swim up processing was markedly decreased after processing(17.1%vs 2.4%,P<0.01;65 randomly picked couples).Sperm progressive motility was significantly reduced in high DFI group compared with low DFI group for both IVF and ICSI(IVF:46.9%±12.4%vs 38.5%±12.6%,respectively;ICSI:37.6%±14.1%vs 22.3%±17.8%,respectively;both P<0.01).The fertilization rate was significantly lower in high(≥25%)DFI group compared with low(<25%)DFI group using IVF(73.3%±23.9%vs 53.2%±33.6%,respectively;P<0.01)but was equivalent in high and low DFI groups using ICSI.Embryonic development and clinical outcomes after FET were equivalent for low and high DFI groups using ICSI or IVF.In this study,sperm DFI did not provide sufficient information regarding embryo development or clinical outcomes for infertile couples using FET.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31970792 and 31771652).
文摘Reliable molecular biomarkers to predict fertility remain scarce.The current study investigated the potential of testis-specific circBOULE RNAs as biomarkers for male infertility and sperm quality.Using reverse transcription-PCR and real-time reverse transcription-PCR assays,we identified seven circular RNAs from the human BOULE gene in human sperm.We observed that the expression level of circEx3-6 was significantly reduced in asthenozoospermia,while the expression levels of both circEx2-6 and circEx2-7 were decreased in terato-zoospermia,compared with the controls.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the expression level of circEx2-6 was negatively correlated with the sperm DNA fragmentation index,and the expression level of circEx2-7 was correlated with both fertilization and cleavage rates in those treated with the assisted reproductive technologies.Further functional analyses in a transgenic fly model supported the roles of circBOULE RNAs in sperm development and human male fertility.Collectively,our findings support that sperm circBOULE RNAs may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for assessing sperm motility and DNA quality.Therefore,clinical application and significance of sperm circBOULE RNAs in the assisted reproductive technologies warrant further investigation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81801518 and No.82071646).
文摘The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of magnetic-activated cell sorting(MACS)in sperm preparation for male subjects with a sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)≥30%.A total of 86 patients who had undergone their first long-term long protocol were selected.The protocol involved in vitro fertilization(IVF)and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)cycles,and the patients were divided into the MACS or control groups.The MACS group included sperm samples analyzed with MACS that were combined with density gradient centrifugation(DGC)and the swim-up(SU)technique(n=39),and the control group included sperm samples prepared using standard techniques(DGC and SU;n=41).No differences were noted with regard to basic clinical characteristics,number of oocytes retrieved,normal fertilization rate,cleavage rate,or transplantable embryo rate between the two groups in IVF/ICSI.In addition,the clinical pregnancy and implantation rates of the first embryo transfer cycles indicated no significant differences between the two groups.However,there was a tendency to improve the live birth rate(LBR)of the first embryo transfer cycle(63.2%vs 53.9%)and the cumulative LBR(79.5%vs 70.7%)in the MACS group compared with the control group.Moreover,the number of transferred embryos(mean±standard deviation[s.d.]:1.7±0.7 vs 2.3±1.6)and the transfer number of each retrieved cycle(mean±s.d.:1.2±0.5 vs 1.6±0.8)were significantly lower in the MACS group than those in the control group.Thus,the selection of nonapoptotic spermatozoa by MACS for higher sperm DFI could improve assisted reproductive clinical outcomes.
基金This study was supported by Hebei Natural Science Foundation(H2022206019)Science and Technology(S and T)Program of Hebei(21377721D)+1 种基金Hebei Province Medical Technology Tracking Project(GZ2021028)Medical Science Research Project of Hebei Province(20170084,and 20211494).
文摘The sperm DNA fragmentation index(DFI)is a metric used to assess DNA fragmentation within sperm.During in vitro fertilizationembryo transfer(IVF-ET),high sperm DFI can lead to a low fertilization rate,poor embryo development,early miscarriage,etc.A kinase anchoring protein(AKAP)is a scaffold protein that can bind protein kinase A(PKA)to subcellular sites of specific substrates and protects the biophosphorylation reaction.Sperm protein antigen 17(SPA17)can also bind to AKAP.This study intends to explore the reason for the decreased fertilization rate observed in high sperm DFI(H-DFI)patients during IVF-ET.In addition,the study investigates the expression of AKAP,protein kinase A regulatory subunit(PKARIl),and SPA17 between H-DFI and low sperm DFI(L-DFI)patients.SPA17 at the transcriptional level is abnormal,the translational level increases in H-DFI patients,and the expression of AKAP4/PKARIl protein decreases.H,O,has been used to simulate oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa during the formation of sperm DFI.It indicates that H,O,increases the expression of sperm SPA17 protein and suppresses AKAP4/PKARIl protein expression.These processes inhibit sperm capacitation and reduce acrosomal reactions.Embryo culture data and IVF outcomes have been documented.The H-DFI group has a lower fertilization rate.Therefore,the results indicate that the possible causes for the decreased fertilization rate in the H-DFI patients have included loss of sperm AKAP4/PKARIl proteins,blocked sperm capacitation,and reduced occurrence of acrosome reaction.
