Apoptosis Will be Increased after 2h Incubation of Human Sperm at 37°C
Volume 4, winter, Winter 2014, Pages 415-423
https://doi.org/10.52547/JCT.4.4.415
Abstract Aim: The main goal was to evaluate the impact of different incubation time intervals on human sperm DNA status using terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase–mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) test.
Material and methods: This prospective study involved 21 normozoospermic specimens. After direct swim-up, sperm cells were incubated at 37°C and DNA damage was evaluated at different time intervals (0, 1, 2 and 3 h). After slide fixation with methanol 100% for 4 minutes and rinse in phosphate-buffered solution (PBS), TUNEL was added to each slide and incubated for 60 minute in dark. Eosin-Nigrosin and Papanicolaou staining protocols were applied in order to assess sperm viability and morphology, respectively.
Results: Sperm viability and normal morphology was improved after sperm processing (100%, 72.3% respectively, p < 0.0001). The rate of DNA damage was significantly higher after 2h compared to 0h (9.19±0.8% Vs 4.9±0.9%, respectively, p=0.008). Also there was significant difference in abnormal sperm DNA between 3h and 1h (10.95±0.7% Vs 7.1±1%, respectively, p=0.020).
Conclusion: Incubation of prepared normozoospermic samples at 37°C more than 2 h may be associated with sperm DNA fragmentation. Therefore, it seems that incubation of human spermatozoa at 37°C should be limited up to 2h prior to use in ART clinics.