Correlation Between Sperm DNA Damage And IVF-ET

Objective:1. Sperm concentration, morphology and motility are of great importance in the process of evaluating sperm quality. DFI (DNA fragmentation index) reflects the integrity of sperm DNA and is a sign of sperm DNA damage. We aim to study explore the relation between DFI and sperm routines parameters.2. To evaluating the development and differentiation of embryo through analysing the relationship between DFI and fertilization rate, cleavage rate, high quality embryos rate, available embryo rate.3. To evaluate the value of DFI in the predicting the outcome of IVF-ET.Methods:274IVF cycles were selected in this study from March2010to December2011in Zaozhuang reproductive center. According to the DFI value of the men, these IVF cycles were divided into two groups:group A with DFI≥15%(n=78) and group2with DFI<15%(n=196). Sperm function including morphology, motility and concentration were calculated. All the women in the two groups were underwent standard long protocol. They received oral contraceptive pretreatment at the5th day in the cycle preceding ovarian stimulation. GnRH agonist was initiated from day21of OC pretreatment cycle. All patients had withdrawal bleeding after discontinuation of OC. When pituitary desensitization was achieved, ovarian stimulation was started. Based on the age of the patients, basal hormone levels, numbers of antral follicle and history of prior treatment, appropriate dosage of FSH was selected to promote follicle growth. Throughout the stimulation cycle, FSH dosage was adjusted according to serum estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone determination and follicular development, In both groups, HCG of5000-10000IU was administered subcutaneously to induce follicular maturation when two or more follicles reached a mean diameter of18mm. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval was performed34-36hours after rhCG injection, and2to3embryos were transferred into the uterus on the3rd day after oocyte retrieval. Cleavage rate, fertilization rate, available embryo, high quality embryos, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rate were also calculated.Results:The sperm quality of group B is better than that of group A, there is significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). However there is no difference between the two groups about the embryo development and differentiation including differentiation rate, cleavage rate, fertilization rate, available embryo, high quality embryos, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rate (P>0.05)Conclusion:Sperm DNA damage correlates with sperm quality and sperm DNA damage usually is together with decline of sperm quality. In IVF-ET cycles sperm DNA damage can’t affects the development and differentiation of embryo, so DFI can not be as a mark to predict the outcome of IVF-ET.