Vitamin E supplementation in semen-freezing medium improves the motility and protects sperm from freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage.

This study evaluated the effect of vitamin E supplementation to cryoprotective media on post-thaw motility and DNA integrity of normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic semen samples. The results of this study indicate that supplementation of vitamin E (5 mM) significantly improves the post-thaw motility and DNA integrity in normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic semen samples.

TUNEL as a test for sperm DNA damage in the evaluation of male infertility.

Objectives: To standardize the TUNEL assay by establishing inter- and intraobserver variability, interassay variability, cutoff values, sensitivity and specificity of the assay, and studying the distribution of the DNA damage in a population of infertile men referred to a clinical andrology laboratory.

Methods: Seminal ejaculates from 25 healthy male volunteers (controls) and 194 infertile men (with male factor infertility) referred to an andrology laboratory were examined for DNA damage by TUNEL assay using flow cytometric analysis.

Results: Both the inter- and intraobserver variability and interassay variability was small (<10%).

Semen characteristics and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men with low and high levels of seminal reactive oxygen species.

Objective: To examine sperm motility, total antioxidant level (TAC), DNA fragmentation, and medical history in infertile men with high seminal high reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting(s): Tertiary care hospital.