The Predictive Value Of DFI In Isolated Asthenospermia Men And The Influence Of Conventional Semen Preparation Techniques On DFI

Objective:1. Study the relationship between sperm DNA fragme-ntation index (DFI) and conventional semen parameters, fertilization outcome, embryo development and sperm chromosomal aneuploidy frequencies to assess its clinical predictive value in isolated asthen-ospermia men.2. To compare the DFI of sperm samples obtained after swim-up, density-gradient centrifugation and density-gradient centrifuga-tion density combined swim-up and select the best semen preparation technique in clinical application.Methods:1. Fresh semen samples were obtained from82isolated asthenospermia men. Each was divided into three equal aliquots after conventional semen parameters analysis:①DFI analysis(acridine orange staining, AO);②intracytoplasmic sperm injection, then fertilezation out-come and embryo development were recorded;③Aneuploidy was analy-zed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (18/21/X/Y).The groups were divided by DFI scores:A group(DFI≤15%, n=18), B group(15%<DFI <30%,n=38), C group (DFI≥30%, n=26.2. Fresh semen samples were obtained from38men with high DFI (DFI≥30%), Each was divided into three equal aliquots for processing with routine techniques:conventional Swim-up(CSW), density-gradient centrifugation(DGC), conventional swim-up combined density-gradient centrifugation (CSW+DGC). Conv-entional semen parameters and DFI were evaluated before and after processing.Results:1. Progressive motility (PR,%) and motility (PR+NP,%) in group C were significantly lower than both in group A and group B(P<0.05). The high-quality embryo formation rate and sperm chromosomal aneuploidy frequencies both were significantly lower in group C, as compared with group A(P<0.05). DFI was significantly negatively correlated with PR and PR+NP (P<0.05), while positively correlated with sperm chromosomal aneuploidy frequencies (P<0.05).2. Both PR and PR+NP were increased (P<0.05), but sperm concentration was declined (P<0.05) after processing by CSW, DGC and DGC+CSW. DFI was reduced (P<0.05) after processing by CSW and DGC+CSW, but is increased (P<0.05) after processing by DGC. A significant increase in PR and PR+NP (P<0.05), but decline in concentration was demonstrated in CSW or DGC+CSW versus DGC(P<0.05). DFI was lower after processing by DGC+CSW, compared to CSW(P<0.05).Conclusion:l.To some extent, clinical predictive value of DFI in isolated asthenospermia men can be demonstrated.2. DGC+CSW can recover more semen with high motility and intact DNA, as compared with CSW or DGC.