[GammaH2AX-mediated repair of DNA damaged sperm in the zygote].

Male germ cells are particularly susceptible to DNA damage by genotoxic agents during spermiogenesis and spermatozoal maturation, and meanwhile lack an effective repair system to eliminate the lesions. Because the DNA damaged sperm still has fertilizability and developmental potentiality, damage repair may occur after fertilization, but its mechanism remains unknown. Histone H2AX phosphorylation (gammaH2AX) is reportedly involved in the repair of damaged sperm DNA after fertilization.

[Reducing oxidative DNA damage by adding antioxidants in human semen samples undergoing cryopreservation procedure].

Objective: To evaluate the protective effects of oxidative DNA damage by adding antioxidants: ascorbate, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in human semen samples undergoing cryopreservation procedure.

Methods: Semen sample form 30 fertile men were mixed with modified cryoprotectant and divided into six groups according to the category and concentration of antioxidants: ascorbate 300 micromol/L, ascorbate 600 micromol/L, CAT 200 U/ml, CAT 400 U/ml, SOD 200 U/ml, and SOD 400 U/ml. Comet assay was conducted to measure the percentage of comet cells, and the nuclear DNA damaged parameters: tail DNA percentage (TD%) and Olive tail moment (OTM).