[ efficiency of Zeta method in separation of sperm with normal morphology and chromatin structure]

Selection of mature sperm with normal morphology and chromatin structure is needed for assisted reproduction technology [ART] procedures. At present, various sperm separation methods exist to select mature sperm. The selection of mature sperm based on electrical charge of membrane is one of these methods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Zeta potential for selection of normal sperm in term of morphology and chromatin structure integrity. In this descriptive-analytical study, semen samples from 70 infertile couples referring to Isfahan Fertility and Infertility center were evaluated. Semen analysis was carried out according to WHO criteria. The remaining of semen samples were used for Zeta method. Then Sperm morphology, protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation were assessed using papanicolaou staining, chromomycin A3 [CMA3] staining, and sperm chromatin dispersion [SCD] test, respectively. In addition, we compared the result of Zeta group with control group. Coefficients of correlation and paired-samples t-test were carried out using SPSS 11.5, to compare results among between two groups. The results of this study show that the mean of abnormal morphology, protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation were 88.19 +/- 7.37, 67.17 +/- 17.34, 32.87 +/- 8.65 in control group, and 80.17 +/- 10.26, 58.40 +/- 18.20, 18.19 +/- 8.64, in the Zeta group, respectively. Zeta group can decrease significantly the percentage of abnormal morphology, protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation compared to control group [P<0.05]. Zeta method can be used in separation of mature sperm with normal morphology, normal protamine contained and intact DNA

[Origins and evaluation of DNA damage in infertile individual]

Assisted reproductive techniques [ART] are considered as the first line of treatment in overcoming infertility. The scope of success of these methods depend on several factors including integrity of sperm and oocyte. Obviously, paternal genomic content has an important effect on fertilization potential in infertile couples. Thus, sperm DNA damage is a genomic disorder that exists in different degree in infertile men. Since the first reports on sperm DNA integrity, this subject has become the focus of numerous studies. It has been reported that individuals with high percentage of sperm DNA damage have lower sperm parameters and, fertilization rate. Therefore, this review is based on our current understanding of mechanisms involved in sperm DNA damage and also will describe different procedures for evaluation of sperm DNA damage