Dados do Trabalho

Title

MALE INFERTILITY AND THE RELATIONSHIP OF SEMINAL VISCOSITY AND SPERM DNA FRAGMENTATION

Objective

Our objective was to evaluate the existence of a relationship between sperm DNA fragmentation and seminal hyperviscosity

Methods

In our study population, all patients were instructed to maintain a period of abstinence between 48 and 72 hours and perform semen collection using the masturbation method. Patients were divided into groups of samples with normal and altered viscosity parameters, correlated with the sperm DNA fragmentation index test. The samples were conditioned at 37°C for 30 minutes to determine the state of liquefaction. The semen parameters analyzed followed the guidelines protocol of the World Health Organization (WHO). Thus, the parameters of seminal volume, percentage of sperm motility, and total concentration of motile spermatozoa were evaluated. For the evaluation of sperm fragmentation, the chromatin dispersion test was used, where the spermatozoa were fixed in agarose gel and washed in lysis solutions for DNA exposure. Spermatozoa with intact DNA had an expressive halo formed around the head, while spermatozoa with fragmented DNA had no or reduced halo. For statistical analysis, results were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), and the two groups were compared using Student's t-test for independent samples. A significance level of 0.05 (a = 5%) was adopted.

Results

The results showed among patients a sperm concentration and progressive motility greater than 16 x 106 spermatozoa / mL and 30%, respectively. Furthermore, strict Kruger morphology was greater than 4%, with spermatozoa being considered normal according to the analysis reference standard. Samples with increased viscosity (60%) did not show sperm fragmentation above normal. When analyzing the relationship between seminal viscosity and the fragmentation index, it was observed that sperm DNA fragmentation was higher in normal samples without alteration in viscosity (57%) when compared to patients with semen with increased viscosity (above 40%). According to literature data, DNA damage would be associated with low natural pregnancy rates, intrauterine inseminations (IUI), and results obtained from in vitro fertilization (IVF), in addition to the association with increased risk of miscarriages in couples who have undergone assisted reproduction techniques (for example, IVF and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection - ICSI). On the other hand, methods for evaluating the status of cellular DNA do not exclude the presence of a subpopulation without damage to the sperm's genetic material. Thus, in order not to justify the incorporation of fragmentation tests into the seminal analysis routine by reaffirming the low performance due to the test sensitivity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study showed the relationship between sperm viscosity and the fragmentation rate. In our results, no association was found when analyzing these parameters in isolation, which reinforces the hypothesis that this is a transient condition for the patient. In addition, seminal parameters may enable better results over time (collection of new samples), not necessarily associated with the evaluation of hyperviscosity. It is also important to correlate all standard results and additional seminal evaluation tests in an attempt to minimize the direct risks of low pregnancy rates and inappropriate medical management.

Keywords

Reproductive health, Male infertility, Seminal analysis, Sperm fragmentation, Viscosity.