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Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 10/2020

01-10-2020 | Infertility | Gamete Biology

Discordance between human sperm quality and telomere length following differential gradient separation/swim-up

Authors: Ana Catarina Lopes, Pedro Fontes Oliveira, Soraia Pinto, Carolina Almeida, Maria João Pinho, Rosália Sá, Eduardo Rocha, Alberto Barros, Mário Sousa

Published in: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | Issue 10/2020

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Abstract

Background

Strong evidence has suggested an important role of telomeres in meiosis, fertilization, and embryo development.

Purpose

To determine if sperm telomere length (STL) in sperm purified by differential gradient centrifugation followed by swim-up (selected STL) is correlated with sperm quality and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Relative selected STL was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) in 78 consecutive assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments during 2017. Statistical analyses were performed in the totality of patients, and in normozoospermic and non-normozoospermic patients. These included correlations between selected STL and sperm quality parameters, embryological parameters (multivariable linear regression), and clinical parameters (multivariable logistic regression).

Results

No significant correlations were found between selected STL and sperm quality in the total population. However, selected STL was significantly correlated with total sperm count (r = 0.361; P = 0.039) and sperm DNA fragmentation-post-acrosomal region pattern (r = − 0.464; P = 0.030) in normozoospermic patients. No relation was observed between selected STL and clinical outcomes in any clinical group.

Conclusions

As the correlations observed in normozoospermic patients were not representative of the whole heterogeneous population, differences in the sperm characteristics of the study population may lead to discrepant results when evaluating the association of STL with sperm quality. Since the total population selected STL was not related with sperm quality and with clinical outcomes, results do not support the use of selected STL measurement to evaluate the reproductive potential of the male patient or to predict the success rates of ART treatments.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Discordance between human sperm quality and telomere length following differential gradient separation/swim-up
Authors
Ana Catarina Lopes
Pedro Fontes Oliveira
Soraia Pinto
Carolina Almeida
Maria João Pinho
Rosália Sá
Eduardo Rocha
Alberto Barros
Mário Sousa
Publication date
01-10-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics / Issue 10/2020
Print ISSN: 1058-0468
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01897-1

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