Oxidative stress (OS) plays an essential role in male infertility aetiology by affecting sperm quality, function, and also the integrity of\nspermDNA.The assessment of oxidative stress in semen may be an important tool to improve the evaluation of spermreproductive\ncapacity. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of any possible relation between the unbalance of oxidative stress caused\nby superoxide anion in the ejaculate with the presence of sperm DNA fragmentation and high concentration of round cells. 56\nsemen samples frommales fromcouples suffering frominfertility were evaluated according toWorld Health Organisation (WHO)\n2010 guidelines. Oxidative stress levels from N1 (low) to N4 (high) were assessed in ejaculates using oxiSperm; DFI (sperm DNA\nfragmentation index) as assessed by the SCSA (Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay) was used for evaluation of sperm chromatin\nintegrity. Our data show that high oxidative stress (N3-N4 levels) correlated positively with a DFI ? 30% (???? = 0.0379) and round\ncells ?1.500.000/mL (???? = 0.0084). In conclusion, OS increases sperm DNA damage.Thus evaluation of semen OS extent of sperm\nDNA damage in infertile man could be useful to develop new therapeutic strategies and improve success of assisted reproduction\ntechniques (ART).
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