Vasectomy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vasectomy, including details on procedure, risks, statistics, contraception, reversal. | ||||||||
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Localization of single-stranded DNA in human sperm nuclei.Zhang X, San Gabriel M, Libman J, Phillips S, Courchesne A, Zini A Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. OBJECTIVE: To localize foci of single-stranded (ss) DNA in sperm nuclei of fertile and infertile men. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: University infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): Semen samples from 12 consecutive asthenoteratospermic men presenting for infertility evaluation and 5 consecutive fertile men presenting for vasectomy. INTERVENTION(S): Semen analysis, semen processing, and immunocytochemistry using an antibody targeting ssDNA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm nuclear ssDNA immunostaining pattern in whole and processed semen samples. RESULT(S): Immunocytochemistry (using ssDNA antibody) demonstrated one of two sperm nuclear staining patterns: [1] faint punctated staining, and [2] diffuse nuclear staining. Infertile men had a higher proportion of spermatozoa exhibiting diffuse ssDNA staining than did fertile men (52 +/- 19 vs. 14 +/- 13, respectively). The proportion of spermatozoa exhibiting diffuse ssDNA staining was significantly higher in whole compared with processed semen. Positive (DNAse-treated nuclei) and negative controls (S1 nuclease-treated nuclei) were obtained to validate the specificity of the antibody. CONCLUSION(S): Human sperm nuclei generally exhibit discrete (presumably peripheral) foci of ssDNA. The data also show that infertile men have a higher proportion of sperm nuclei with diffuse areas of ssDNA than do fertile men, and suggest that spermatozoa with diffuse nuclear staining are abnormal. Published 9 November 2007 in Fertil Steril, 88(5): 1334-8.
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